Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis

A reaction whose rate depends on the square of one concentration or on the product of two concentrations.

1/[A] = 1/[A]₀ + kt L/(mol·s)

The ability of a catalyst to direct a reaction towards one particular product among several possible ones.

selectivity = desired product / total product Dimensionless

Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis

The assumption that the concentration of a reactive intermediate stays essentially constant because it is consumed as fast as it is formed.

d[intermediate]/dt ≈ 0 mol/L

Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis

The fraction of sufficiently energetic collisions that also have the correct spatial orientation for reaction.

p = A / Z Dimensionless

Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis

The factor by which a reaction rate increases for a 10 °C rise in temperature.

Q₁₀ = k(T+10) / k(T) Dimensionless

Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis

An elementary step requiring the simultaneous collision of three species.

rate = k[A][B][C] L²/(mol²·s)

Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis

The minimum total energy that colliding molecules must possess for the collision to be capable of reaction.

E_threshold = Ea + E_average kJ/mol

Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis

The highest-energy configuration along the reaction coordinate, at which bonds are partly broken and partly formed.

denoted ‡ kJ/mol

Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis

The theory that treats the activated complex as being in quasi-equilibrium with reactants and calculates rate from its decomposition…

k = (k_BT/h) e^(−ΔG‡/RT) Various

Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis

The number of substrate molecules converted per catalytic site per unit time.

TON = molecules converted / active sites s⁻¹

Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis

An elementary step in which a single molecule rearranges or decomposes.

A → products, rate = k[A] s⁻¹

Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis

A reaction whose rate is independent of the concentration of the reactant.

[A] = [A]₀ − kt mol/(L·s)