1.
Understand
the difference between spontaneity and rate of reaction.
2.
Know
the meaning of the terms chemical kinetics, reaction mechanism, and reaction
rate.
3.
Know
what units are used to express rates of reactions and why these units are
appropriate. Understand the difference
between average rate and instantaneous rate.
What is being expressed by the rate of the reaction? How does the rate of reaction relate to
changes in product concentration? Reactant concentration? What roles do the coefficients play?
4.
Be
familiar with the general format used to express a rate law for a
reaction. Understand the significance of
the exponents and the rate constant, k, in a rate law. Know
how the exponents describe the order of the reaction (with respect to a
particular reactant) and what this means.
5.
Understand
the difference between the (differential) rate law and the integrated rate law.
6.
Be
able to write rate laws for specific reactions by using experimental data and
the method of initial rates. Be able to
use the rate law to express the order of the reaction with respect to each
reactant (ex. First order with respect to reactant B, second order with respect
to reactant A, etc.) and the
overall reaction order.
7.
Be
able to interpret rate law expressions to determine what will happen to the
rate of a reaction when specific changes in reactant concentration are made.
8.
Understand
what information is conveyed by the integrated rate law and half-life.
9.
Be
able to use experimental data to determine the half-life of a first order,
second order, or zero order reaction. Be able to use experimental data with the
integrated rate law equation to solve for concentration or time.
10.
Understand
what is meant by the terms reaction mechanism, reaction intermediate,
elementary steps, molecularity (unimolecular,
etc.), and rate-determining step. Be
aware of how reaction mechanisms correspond to and help explain observed rate
laws.
11.
Understand
what is meant by the collision theory (model) of reaction rates. Know what is required for a successful
collision.
12.
Understand
what is meant by the terms transition state, activation energy, and molecular
orientation.
13.
Understand
how the Arrhenius equation relates temperature, activation energy, and the rate
constant. Be able to solve the Arrhenius
equation for any of these variables.
14.
Understand
how catalysts affect the rate of a reaction.
Be familiar with the meanings of the terms enzymes and substrates.
15.
Understand
the problems associated with ozone depletion and how catalysis caused by
chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) leads to ozone depletion.