Kinetics Topics in Depth
Collision and Transition State Theory
Tug of Chemical WarHave you ever wondered how reactions occur anyway? We've already learned that reactions are all about the making and breaking of bonds and the movement of electrons, but why does...
Factors Influencing Reaction Kinetics
The Need for SpeedPretend you are waiting in line for your driver's license at the DMV. Would you rather wait 15 minutes, or 4 hours? As much as we like having our will to live sapped away by the D...
Reaction Rate
Need for Speed 2: Electric BoogalooThe song "Ten in the Bed" is a classic children's song. It also is completely insane. How do you get ten kids in a bed? And why is the little kid such a covers ho...
Plotting Kinetics Experiments
Get your Graph Ony = mx + b. The formula for the boring old line. Chemists revere the line in the same way that dogs adore chew toys. Why, you ask? Because chemists like to simplify things, and let...
Arrhenius Equation
It's Not as Dirty as it SoundsSvante Arrhenius…putting the k in kinetics for 120 years. Svante Arrhenius, which roughly translates to "Savant Are a Genius," studied chemical kinetics for lots and...
Dynamic Equilibrium
Your Equilibrium is so DynamicDynamic equilibrium. Living dead. Jumbo shrimp. Oxymorons? You bet. The English language bends and twists around on itself. How does one define dynamic equilibrium? Is...
The Equilibrium Constant
We're Constantly Amazed By Your EquilibriumHave you heard about yin and yang? They're total opposites of each other, but they're also connected together in a bunch of deep ways. Not to get all phil...
Le Chatelier's Principle
LeChatelier Shot the Sheriff, But He Did Not Shoot the DeputyLeChatelier's Principle sounds like a long shot horse at the Kentucky Derby. If it were, we definitely wouldn't want to bet on it. Why?...
Thermodynamics
We Hope You've Conserved Your Energy for This SectionThe First Law of ThermodynamicsThermodynamics. The mere word strikes fear in the hearts of almost all who hear it. Or see it. There's nothing to...
Common Mistakes
Plotting Kinetics ExperimentsIn only first-order reactions, the half-life is independent of the initial concentration. Arrhenius EquationThe units of R are in joules, while activation energy is oft...
Test Your Knowledge
Collision and Transition-State Theory1. According to Collision Theory, what needs to happen in order for a reaction to occur?a) Reactants need to slam into each other with sufficient forceb) Reacta...