Andrew Voyles

IB Chemistry Assessment Statements: Topics 6 and 16

6.1.1: The rate of reaction is the decrease in the concentration of one

of the reactants per unit time, or the increase in the concentration of
one of the products per unit time.

6.1.2: A graph may be plotted of concentration against time, with time

on the x-axis and some measure of how far the reaction has gone (ie
concentration, volume, mass loss etc) on the y-axis. This will produce a
curve and the rate at any given point is the gradient of the tangent to
this curve.

6.2.1: The kinetic theory states that all matter consists of particles
(atoms or molecules) in motion, as the temperature increases, the
average speed of the movement increases, there is a temperature to
which we can extrapolate, absolute zero, at which, theoretically, the
motion of the atoms and molecules would stop, the pressure of a gas is
due to the motion of the atoms or molecules of gas striking the object
bearing that pressure, and that there is a very large distance between
the particles of a gas compared to the size of the particles such that
the size of the particle can be considered negligible.

6.2.2: Activation energy is the energy that must be overcome in order

for a chemical reaction to occur.

6.2.3: Collision theory states that reactions take place as a result of

particles (atoms or molecules) colliding and then undergoing a
reaction. Not all collisions cause reaction, however, even in a system
where the reaction is spontaneous. The particles must have sufficient
kinetic energy (such that for a given particle of energy E, E ≥ Ea), and
the correct orientation with respect to each other for the two to react.

6.2.4: Higher temperature -> greater average kE -> faster reaction.

Higher concentration -> more collisions -> faster reaction.
Higher pressure -> greater concentration -> faster reaction
Smaller particle size -> greater surface area -> faster reaction
6.2.5:

For the higher temperature, T2, there are a greater number of particles
which have at least the minimum activation energy for this reaction. As
a result, the reaction at the higher temperature will proceed at a faster
rate.

6.2.6: The presence of a catalyst lowers the activation energy of the

reaction by providing an alternate pathway which is more favored. In
addition, it also helps to align the molecules in the proper orientation
needed for the collisions involved in the reaction. These two factors
combined to create a reaction that proceeds at a faster rate than
normal, without the catalyst.

6.2.7:
The presence of a catalyst lowers the activation energy of the reaction
by providing an alternate pathway which is more favored. This creates
a greater number of particles which have at least the minimum
activation energy for this reaction. As a result, the reaction at the
higher temperature will proceed at a faster rate.

16.1.1: The rate constant is a constant which quantify as the speed of

a particular chemical reaction, whose units depend on the specific
reaction as well. The overall order of reaction is the sum of the orders
of the individual reactants. The order of reaction, with respect to a
particular reactant, is a measure of the relation between the
concentration of a reactants and its effect upon the reaction rate.
16.1.2: The rate expression will be of the form Rate = k[A]m[B]n... (with
a term for each reactant). The exponents of the reactants correspond
to their coefficients in the slow step of the reaction mechanism.

16.1.4:

Zero Order First Order Second

Order

16.2.1: Many reactions are not actually single reactions, but the result
of several reactions combined together a process refer to as a reaction
mechanism. The products of some reactions become the reactants of
other reactions, and all of the steps in a mechanism can be added
together to achieve the overall reaction equation. The step which
precedes at the slowest rate (the rate determining step) determines
the overall rate of the reaction mechanism.

16.2.2: The rate determining step is the slowest step in the reaction
mechanism. The order of reaction, with respect to a particular reactant,
is a measure of the relation between the concentration of a reactants
and its effect upon the reaction rate. The concentration of a reactant
on a zero order reaction has no effect on the reaction rate. The change
in concentration of a reactant in a first order reaction is proportional to
the change in reaction rate. The change in concentration of a reactant
in a second order reaction is proportional to the square of the change
in reaction rate.

16.3.1: k=Ae(-E /RT)

a

16.3.2: When ln(k) is plotted against 1/T, the resulting line has a slope
of –Ea/R, where R is the universal gas constant. By multiplying the
slope by –R, we could obtain a value of the activation energy (Ea)