Defining and Measuring Rate

Chemical Kinetics

In this course, Dr Nick Chatterton (Birkbeck College, University of London) introduces chemical kinetics as a means of measuring and studying the rate of a chemical reaction. To begin, we (i) understand how we can measure the rate of reaction from reactant and product concentration data; and (ii) take a closer look at collision theory and Maxwell-Boltzmann distributions; before (iii) understanding what an order of a reaction means and how we can determine reaction order from experimental data; and (iv) look at concentration-time graphs and how they demonstrate the difference between different orders of reaction; and finally (v) understand the close relationship between the reaction mechanism, the rate-determining step and the rate equation.

Defining and Measuring Rate

In the first mini-lecture, Dr Nick Chatterton (Birkbeck College, University of London) introduces to us chemical kinetics as the study of understanding rates of reaction. To begin, we learn the precise definition of rate of reaction, and in doing so appreciate the units needed to measure it. Why is studying the rate of reaction so important? In this first lecture we understand its importance in industry to optimise chemical reactions, and to continue we understand how we might extract rate of reaction from experimental data, such as from change in reactant concentration or product concentration