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This deck focuses on Reaction Rates, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Chemistry.
AP Chemistry Flashcards: Reaction Rates
Study Reaction Rates in AP Chemistry with focused flashcards that help you recognize the idea, recall the key rule, and apply it in practice-style prompts.
AP Chemistry
Reaction Rates
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QUESTION
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Identify the rate-determining step in a reaction mechanism.
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ANSWER
The slowest step in the mechanism. Controls overall reaction rate.
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Flashcard 1: Identify the rate-determining step in a reaction mechanism.
Answer: The slowest step in the mechanism. Controls overall reaction rate.
Flashcard 2: How do you experimentally determine the rate law of a reaction?
Answer: Using the method of initial rates. Measure initial rates at different concentrations.
Flashcard 3: Define rate constant in the context of reaction rates.
Answer: The proportionality constant (k) in the rate law. Units depend on reaction order.
Flashcard 4: What is the effect of increasing concentration on reaction rate?
Answer: Increases the reaction rate. More reactant molecules available for collision.
Flashcard 5: What is the role of intermediates in a reaction mechanism?
Answer: Species that appear in the mechanism but not in the overall equation. Formed and consumed during reaction pathway.
Flashcard 6: What is the typical unit for reaction rate?
Answer: Molarity per second (M/s). Change in concentration per unit time.
Flashcard 7: What is the half-life formula for a first-order reaction?
Answer: t1/2=k0.693. Time for concentration to drop to half initial value.
Flashcard 8: Which factors influence the activation energy of a reaction?
Answer: Nature of reactants and presence of a catalyst. Intrinsic properties determine energy barrier height.
Flashcard 9: What affects the frequency factor (A) in the Arrhenius equation?
Answer: Orientation and frequency of collisions. Pre-exponential factor in Arrhenius equation.
Flashcard 10: What does the term 'molecularity' refer to?
Answer: The number of molecules involved in an elementary step. Can be 1, 2, or 3 for elementary reactions.
Flashcard 11: What is the relationship between temperature and the rate constant?
Answer: Rate constant increases with temperature. Exponential relationship from Arrhenius equation.
Flashcard 12: State the Arrhenius equation.
Answer: k=Ae−Ea/RT. Relates rate constant to temperature and activation energy.
Flashcard 13: What is the effect of a catalyst on the rate constant?
Answer: Increases the rate constant. Provides lower activation energy pathway.
Flashcard 14: Identify the rate-determining step in a reaction mechanism.
Answer: The slowest step in the mechanism. Controls overall reaction rate.
Flashcard 15: Identify the rate-determining step in a reaction mechanism.
Answer: The slowest step in the mechanism. Controls overall reaction rate.
Flashcard 16: What is the relationship between temperature and the rate constant?
Answer: Rate constant increases with temperature. Exponential relationship from Arrhenius equation.
Flashcard 17: How does a catalyst affect the activation energy of a reaction?
Answer: Lowers the activation energy. Provides alternative pathway with lower energy barrier.
Flashcard 18: What is the integrated rate law for a first-order reaction?
Answer: [A] = [A]_0 e^{-kt}. Shows exponential decay of concentration.
Flashcard 19: How does surface area affect the rate of a heterogeneous reaction?
Answer: Increasing surface area increases the rate. More contact area means more collision sites.
Flashcard 20: What is the effect of temperature on the activation energy?
Answer: No effect; activation energy is constant. Activation energy is an intrinsic property.
Flashcard 21: What does the term 'reaction mechanism' refer to?
Answer: The step-by-step sequence of elementary reactions. Shows how overall reaction occurs at molecular level.
Flashcard 22: What is the relationship between temperature and the rate constant?
Answer: Rate constant increases with temperature. Exponential relationship from Arrhenius equation.
Flashcard 23: What is the effect of temperature on the activation energy?
Answer: No effect; activation energy is constant. Activation energy is an intrinsic property.
Flashcard 24: How do you experimentally determine the rate law of a reaction?
Answer: Using the method of initial rates. Measure initial rates at different concentrations.
Flashcard 25: What is the physical significance of the rate constant (k)?
Answer: Indicates speed of reaction at a given temperature. Larger k means faster reaction at same conditions.
Flashcard 26: What is the collision theory of reaction rates?
Answer: Reactions occur when particles collide with sufficient energy. Effective collisions have proper orientation and energy.
Flashcard 27: How do you experimentally determine the rate law of a reaction?
Answer: Using the method of initial rates. Measure initial rates at different concentrations.
Flashcard 28: How can the order of a reaction be determined experimentally?
Answer: By measuring how rate changes with concentration. Compare rates at different concentrations.
Flashcard 29: Which factor does not affect the rate constant?
Answer: Concentration of reactants. Rate constant only depends on temperature and catalyst.
Flashcard 30: What is the typical effect of a catalyst on reaction equilibrium?
Answer: No effect on equilibrium position. Speeds both forward and reverse reactions equally.
Flashcard 31: What is the effect of pressure on the rate of a gaseous reaction?
Answer: Increasing pressure increases the rate. Higher pressure increases concentration of gases.
Flashcard 32: What is the unit of the rate constant for a zero-order reaction?
Answer: M/s. Rate is independent of concentration.
Flashcard 33: Identify the units of the rate constant for a second-order reaction.
Answer: M^{-1} s^{-1}. Units are M1−ns−1 where n is overall order.
Flashcard 34: What is the effect of a catalyst on the rate constant?
Answer: Increases the rate constant. Provides lower activation energy pathway.
Flashcard 35: How do you determine the overall order of a reaction?
Answer: Sum the exponents of all reactants in the rate law. Add all concentration exponents in rate law.
Flashcard 36: Identify the unit of the rate constant for a third-order reaction.
Answer: M−2s−1. Pattern: M1−ns−1 where n=3.
Flashcard 37: Identify the rate-determining step in a reaction mechanism.
Answer: The slowest step in the mechanism. Controls overall reaction rate.
Flashcard 38: What is the typical effect of a catalyst on reaction equilibrium?
Answer: No effect on equilibrium position. Speeds both forward and reverse reactions equally.
Flashcard 39: Which graph is linear for a first-order reaction?
Answer: ln[A] vs. time. Integrated rate law form for first-order kinetics.
Flashcard 40: Identify the unit of the rate constant for a third-order reaction.
Answer: M^{-2} s^{-1}. Pattern: M1−ns−1 where n=3.
Flashcard 41: Identify the order of reaction if rate = k[A]^0[B]^1.
Answer: First order with respect to B. Zero order in A, first order in B.
Flashcard 42: What is the effect of temperature on the activation energy?
Answer: No effect; activation energy is constant. Activation energy is an intrinsic property.
Flashcard 43: What is the relationship between reaction rate and concentration for a zero-order reaction?
Answer: Rate is independent of concentration. Constant rate regardless of concentration changes.
Flashcard 44: What is the typical effect of a catalyst on reaction equilibrium?
Answer: No effect on equilibrium position. Speeds both forward and reverse reactions equally.
Flashcard 45: Define activation energy.
Answer: The minimum energy required to initiate a reaction. Energy barrier that must be overcome.
Flashcard 46: What affects the frequency factor (A) in the Arrhenius equation?
Answer: Orientation and frequency of collisions. Pre-exponential factor in Arrhenius equation.
Flashcard 47: What is the formula for the rate law of a reaction?
Answer: Rate = k[A]^m[B]^n. Where m and n are orders determined experimentally.
Flashcard 48: What is the effect of pressure on the rate of a gaseous reaction?
Answer: Increasing pressure increases the rate. Higher pressure increases concentration of gases.
Flashcard 49: What is the effect of pressure on the rate of a gaseous reaction?
Answer: Increasing pressure increases the rate. Higher pressure increases concentration of gases.
Flashcard 50: What is the typical effect of a catalyst on reaction equilibrium?
Answer: No effect on equilibrium position. Speeds both forward and reverse reactions equally.
Flashcard 51: State the expression for the half-life of a zero-order reaction.
Answer: t1/2=2k[A]0. Half-life depends on initial concentration.
Flashcard 52: Identify the unit of the rate constant for a third-order reaction.
Answer: M^{-2} s^{-1}. Pattern: M1−ns−1 where n=3.
Flashcard 53: Identify the order of reaction if rate = k[A]^2.
Answer: Second order with respect to A. Exponent of [A] is 2.
Flashcard 54: What effect does increasing temperature generally have on reaction rate?
Answer: Increases the reaction rate. Higher temperature means faster molecular motion.
Flashcard 55: What is the role of a catalyst in a chemical reaction?
Answer: Speeds up the reaction without being consumed. Lowers activation energy but remains unchanged.
Flashcard 56: What is the purpose of a rate law?
Answer: To express how the rate depends on concentrations. Mathematical relationship between rate and concentration.
Flashcard 57: What is the effect of pressure on the rate of a gaseous reaction?
Answer: Increasing pressure increases the rate. Higher pressure increases concentration of gases.
Flashcard 58: Identify the order of reaction if rate = k[A][B].
Answer: Second order overall. Sum of exponents: 1 + 1 = 2.
Flashcard 59: How do you experimentally determine the rate law of a reaction?
Answer: Using the method of initial rates. Measure initial rates at different concentrations.
Flashcard 60: What is the relationship between temperature and the rate constant?
Answer: Rate constant increases with temperature. Exponential relationship from Arrhenius equation.