Module 4 Overview & Instructions

 

PRT 1220Rate Constants, Mechanisms, and Equilibrium

Foreword

Obviously, your focus this week will be on Midterm Exam 1, and while this week's material will not be on that exam, it's just as important to keep up with it.  Due dates for this week's material are only on Sunday, June 11, but don't put all of it off until then.

Questions and Answers

Whatever you're struggling with this week, somebody else in our section probably is struggling with it, too.  Post your question on the Module 4 Q&A Board.

If you know the answer to someone's question, post it.  It's almost a certainty that more people in our section than just the person who posted the question want to know the answer.

 

Learning Outcomes/Objectives

By the conclusion of this learning module, you should be able to:

  • understand the collision model for the rates of chemical reactions.
  • use the Arrhenius equation, especially the two-point forms, to relate rate constants, activation energy, and temperature.
  • understand the idea of a transition state or activated complex.
  • interpret energy diagrams with respect to activation energy and change in enthalpy.
  • understand the means by which catalysts increase reaction rates.
  • understand reaction mechanisms as possible explanations for how reactions work on a molecular level.
  • write the rate law for an elementary step of a mechanism.
  • identify the rate-determining step in a reaction mechanism.
  • choose a plausible mechanism based on an experimentally determined rate law.
  • write equilibrium expressions for chemical reactions in terms of concentration and/or pressure.
  • estimate the equilibrium position of a reaction based on the magnitude of the equilibrium constant.
  • manipulate chemical reactions and their equilibrium constants.
  • calculate the equilibrium constant for a reaction by combining reactions and their equilibrium constants.

 

Stuff to Read, Watch, Think About, and Study

 

Before you watch the videos below, download the Download Module 4 Slides

, and use them to take notes as you follow along.

 

read:  Collision Theory Links to an external site.

watch:  Rate Constants and Activation Energy; due by June 11 at 23:59 MDT

practice:  zero-stakes practice problems --  Download rate constants and catalysis study problems

Download rate constants and catalysis study problems key

do:  WebAssign HW -- Rate Constants; due by June 11 at 23:59 MDT 

 

read:  Catalysis Links to an external site.

watch:  Catalysis; due by June 11 at 23:59 MDT

 

read:  Reaction Mechanisms Links to an external site.

watch:  Reaction Mechanisms; due by June 11 at 23:59 MDT

practice:  zero-stakes practice problems --  Download mechanisms study problems

Download mechanisms study problems key

do:  WebAssign HW -- Reaction Mechanisms and Catalysis; due by June 11 at 23:59 MDT

do:  WebAssign timed (75 min) quiz -- Chemical Kinetics; due by June 11 at 23:59 MDT

 

read:  Chemical Equilibria Links to an external site.; Equilibrium Constants Links to an external site.

watch:  Reaction Reversibility; due by June 11 at 23:59 MDT

watch:  Manipulating Equilibrium Reactions and Constants; due by June 11 at 23:59 MDT

practice:  zero-stakes study problems --  Download Equilibrium Expressions and Constants Study Problems

Download Equilibrium Expressions and Constants Study Problems key

do:  WebAssign HW -- Equilibrium Expressions; due by June 11 at 23:59 MDT