Reaction Kinetics

8.1 Rate of reaction
Learning outcomes
Candidates should be able to:
1 explain and use the term rate of reaction, frequency of collisions, effective collisions and non-effective collisions
2 explain qualitatively, in terms of frequency of effective collisions, the effect of concentration and pressure changes on the rate of a reaction
3 use experimental data to calculate the rate of a reaction
8.2 Effect of temperature on reaction rates and the concept of activation energy
Learning outcomes
Candidates should be able to:
1 define activation energy, EA, as the minimum energy required for a collision to be effective
2 sketch and use the Boltzmann distribution to explain the significance of activation energy
3 explain qualitatively, in terms both of the Boltzmann distribution and of frequency of effective collisions, the effect of temperature change on the rate of a reaction

8.3 Homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts
Learning outcomes
Candidates should be able to:
1 explain and use the terms catalyst and catalysis
(a) explain that, in the presence of a catalyst, a reaction has a different mechanism, i.e. one of lower activation energy
(b) explain this catalytic effect in terms of the Boltzmann distribution
(c) construct and interpret a reaction pathway diagram, for a reaction in the presence and absence of an Reaction Kinetics As Level Chemeffective catalyst