Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis — 9 Terms Defined

Catalysis Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis Dimensionless The process by which a reaction rate is increased through the action of a catalyst.

Catalyst Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis Dimensionless A substance that increases the rate of a reaction by providing an alternative pathway of lower activation energy, without being consumed.

Catalyst Poisoning Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis Dimensionless The loss of catalytic activity caused by a substance binding irreversibly to the active sites.

Chain Reaction Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis Dimensionless A self-sustaining reaction sequence in which a reactive intermediate regenerates itself at each cycle. initiation → propagation → termination

Chemical Kinetics Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis mol/(L·s) The study of reaction rates, the factors that influence them, and the step-by-step mechanisms by which reactions occur.

Chemisorption Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis kJ/mol Strong adsorption in which actual chemical bonds form between the adsorbate and the surface. ΔH ≈ −80 to −400 kJ/mol

Collision Frequency Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis s⁻¹ The number of collisions occurring per unit volume per unit time in a reacting mixture. Z ∝ n²σ√T

Collision Theory Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis mol/(L·s) The model that explains reaction rates in terms of the frequency, energy and orientation of collisions between reacting particles. rate = pZ e^(−Ea/RT)

Complex Reaction Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis Dimensionless An overall reaction that proceeds through two or more elementary steps.