Chemical kinetics

Particles > Chemical reactions > Chemical kinetics

Chemical kinetics is the study of rates of chemical processes. This rate can be influenced by many factors such as the nature of the reactants, the temperature, and the introduction of catalysts.

Connection to Big Idea about energy: Collisions between molecules determine the rate of chemical reactions. Only molecules with enough kinetic energy to overcome the activation energy can react. The presence of a catalyst has no effect on the final equilibrium position of a reaction. The catalyst reduces equally the required energy of activation for forward and reverse reactions allowing the system to reach equilibrium faster.

Connection to big idea Evolution: Living organic tissues and organs have adjusted in order to optimize the velocity of chemical reactions occurring in them based on the parameters of the surrounding environment. For instance human’s lungs are formed by a large number of brunches in order to increase the contact surface and by that they increase the velocity of reactions occurring in them.

Connection to Big Idea about the cell: The velocity of chemical reaction depends on many parameters and plays a vital role in cellular processes. Cells have several mechanisms to adjust based on these parameters.

Subjects related: Chemistry

Age ranges: 13-14,14-15,15-16,16-17,17-18