Chemistry 1027A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Reaction Step, Rate-Determining Step, Activation Energy

• School: Western University
• Department: Chemistry
• Course: Chemistry 1027A/B
• Professor: Tsorng- Yeh Lee

Document Summary

Kinetics: a b - results in net energy difference ( e) between reactants & products, speed of a b conversion depends on the size of the barrier (hill) Illustrates the energy changes that occur on route from reactants to products: represents progress along a reaction pathway. Explain the various factors that influence reaction rates. Activation barrier: barrier that must be overcome by reactants in order for a chemical reaction to proceed. Activation energy: energy required to overcome barrier, comes from heat. If reaction doesn"t occur no energy released. Heat-temperature relationship: heat has a direct impact on kinetic energy of molecules, temp: measure of average kinetic energy of collection of molecules, at any given temperature, there is distribution of kinetic energies for molecules. Low temp no reactants have enough energy to overcome activation barrier. Temp increase (heat) some reactants gain enough energy to overcome barrier. Affected species can proceed to products or return to reactants.