AP Chemistry Flashcards: Elementary Reactions

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Elementary Reactions, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Chemistry.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: Which species cancels when you add elementary steps to obtain the overall reaction?

Answer: Intermediates (and catalysts) cancel from the net equation. Species produced and consumed in mechanism don't appear in net equation.

Flashcard 2: Identify the units of $k$ for an elementary step with $\text{rate}=k[A][B]$.

Answer: $\text{M}^{-1}\text{s}^{-1}$. Second-order overall requires one inverse concentration unit.

Flashcard 3: What is the rate law for a unimolecular elementary step $A \rightarrow$ products?

Answer: $\text{rate}=k[A]$. One molecule decomposes, so rate depends on [A] only.

Flashcard 4: What is the rate law for the elementary step $A+2B \rightarrow$ products?

Answer: $\text{rate}=k[A][B]^2$. Coefficient 2 for B becomes exponent 2 in elementary steps.

Flashcard 5: What is the molecularity of an elementary step with three reactant particles?

Answer: Termolecular (rare). Three-body collisions are statistically unlikely.

Flashcard 6: Which option is correct: Can the overall reaction stoichiometry be used to write the overall rate law?

Answer: No; only an elementary step directly determines its rate law. Overall rate laws must be determined experimentally.

Flashcard 7: What is the rate law for the bimolecular elementary step $2A \rightarrow$ products?

Answer: $\text{rate}=k[A]^2$. Coefficient 2 becomes exponent 2 in elementary rate laws.

Flashcard 8: What is the rate law for the termolecular elementary step $2A+B \rightarrow$ products?

Answer: $\text{rate}=k[A]^2[B]$. Exponents match stoichiometric coefficients for elementary steps.

Flashcard 9: Find the overall reaction for: $A \rightarrow B$ and $B+C \rightarrow D$.

Answer: $A+C \rightarrow D$. Add steps; B cancels as intermediate.

Flashcard 10: What is the rate law for a termolecular elementary step $A+B+C \rightarrow$ products?

Answer: $\text{rate}=k[A][B][C]$. Three molecules must collide simultaneously.

Flashcard 11: What is the rate law for the unimolecular elementary step $A \rightarrow$ products?

Answer: $\text{rate}=k[A]$. For elementary steps, rate law exponents equal stoichiometric coefficients.

Flashcard 12: What is the relationship between the RDS and the observed rate law in many mechanisms?

Answer: Observed rate law often matches the RDS rate law. The RDS controls the overall reaction rate.

Flashcard 13: What is the predicted rate law if the slow elementary step is $A+B \rightarrow$ products?

Answer: $\text{rate}=k[A][B]$. Elementary step rate laws directly reflect stoichiometry.

Flashcard 14: What is the definition of the rate-determining step (RDS) in a mechanism?

Answer: The slowest step that limits the overall rate. All other steps must wait for the slowest step to complete.

Flashcard 15: What is the rate-determining step in a multistep mechanism?

Answer: The slowest elementary step that limits the overall rate. Acts as bottleneck; determines overall reaction rate.

Flashcard 16: What is the definition of an elementary reaction step in a mechanism?

Answer: A single-step molecular event with no intermediates. Elementary steps occur in one collision without breaking into smaller steps.

Flashcard 17: What is the rate law for a bimolecular elementary step $A+B \rightarrow$ products?

Answer: $\text{rate}=k[A][B]$. Two different molecules collide, each contributes to rate.

Flashcard 18: What is the overall reaction obtained by adding these steps: $A+B \rightarrow C$ and $C+D \rightarrow E$?

Answer: $A+B+D \rightarrow E$. Add steps and cancel intermediate C on both sides.

Flashcard 19: What is the definition of a catalyst in a reaction mechanism?

Answer: Consumed early and regenerated later; not in net equation. Catalysts appear in mechanism but not in overall equation.

Flashcard 20: Identify the units of $k$ for an elementary step with $\text{rate}=k[A]$.

Answer: $\text{s}^{-1}$. First-order reactions have units of inverse time.

Flashcard 21: Identify the units of $k$ for an elementary step with $\text{rate}=k[A]^2[B]$.

Answer: $\text{M}^{-2}\text{s}^{-1}$. Third-order overall requires two inverse concentration units.

Flashcard 22: What is the molecularity of an elementary step with one reactant particle?

Answer: Unimolecular. One molecule participates in the elementary step.

Flashcard 23: Find the net reaction for: $A+B \rightarrow I$; $I+C \rightarrow D$.

Answer: $A+B+C \rightarrow D$. Add steps and cancel intermediate $I$.

Flashcard 24: What is the rate law for the bimolecular elementary step $A+B \rightarrow$ products?

Answer: $\text{rate}=k[A][B]$. Each reactant appears to the first power in bimolecular steps.

Flashcard 25: Identify the molecularity of the elementary step $A+2B \rightarrow$ products.

Answer: Termolecular. Three particles total: one A and two B molecules.

Flashcard 26: What is the overall reaction order for an elementary step with rate law $\text{rate}=k[A]^2[B]$?

Answer: $3$. Sum all exponents: $2 + 1 = 3$.

Flashcard 27: What is the molecularity of an elementary step with two reactant particles?

Answer: Bimolecular. Two molecules collide in the elementary step.

Flashcard 28: Identify the intermediate from the mechanism: $A+B \rightarrow I$; $I+C \rightarrow$ products.

Answer: $I$. Produced in step 1, consumed in step 2.

Flashcard 29: What is the rate law for a termolecular elementary step $2A+B \rightarrow$ products?

Answer: $\text{rate}=k[A]^2[B]$. Two A's and one B collide; A contributes squared term.

Flashcard 30: What is an elementary reaction in a reaction mechanism?

Answer: A single-step molecular event with one transition state. Cannot be broken down into simpler steps.

Flashcard 31: Identify the molecularity of the elementary step $2A \rightarrow$ products.

Answer: Bimolecular. Two particles collide (both are A molecules).

Flashcard 32: Identify the catalyst from these steps: $X+A \rightarrow Y$ and $Y \rightarrow X+B$.

Answer: $X$. Consumed in step 1, regenerated in step 2.

Flashcard 33: What is the molecularity of an elementary step?

Answer: The number of reactant species that collide in that step. Counts molecules/atoms participating in the elementary step.

Flashcard 34: What are the only possible molecularities for an elementary step in AP Chemistry?

Answer: Unimolecular, bimolecular, or termolecular. 1, 2, or 3 molecules colliding; higher is too improbable.

Flashcard 35: What is a catalyst in a reaction mechanism (as identified from steps)?

Answer: A species consumed early and regenerated in a later step. Appears in overall reaction unchanged; speeds up reaction.

Flashcard 36: What is the rate law for a bimolecular elementary step $2A \rightarrow$ products?

Answer: $\text{rate}=k[A]^2$. Two A molecules collide, so [A] appears squared.

Flashcard 37: Identify the intermediate when these steps are added: $A+B \rightarrow C$ and $C \rightarrow D$.

Answer: $C$. Produced in step 1, consumed in step 2.

Flashcard 38: What is the key rule linking stoichiometric coefficients to rate-law exponents for an elementary step?

Answer: For an elementary step, exponents equal reactant coefficients. Unlike overall reactions, elementary steps follow this rule.

Flashcard 39: What is the definition of an intermediate in a reaction mechanism?

Answer: Formed in one step and consumed in a later step. Intermediates don't appear in reactants or products of overall reaction.