Chemical

Kinetics
 Chemical Kinetics
• The branch of chemistry, which deals with the
study of reaction rates and their mechanisms,
called chemical kinetics.
• Thermodynamics tells only about the feasibility of
a reaction whereas chemical kinetics tells about
the rate of a reaction.
• For example, thermodynamic data indicate that
diamond shall convert to graphite but in reality
the conversion rate is so slow that the change is
not perceptible at all.
 Chemical Kinetics
• Kinetic studies not only help us to determine
the speed or rate of a chemical reaction but
also describe the conditions by which the
reaction rates can be altered.
• The factors such as concentration,
temperature, pressure and catalyst affect the
rate of a reaction.
 Rate of a Chemical Reaction
• The speed of a reaction or the rate of a
reaction can be defined as the change in
concentration of a reactant or product in unit
time. It can be expressed in terms of:
• (i) the rate of decrease in concentration of
any one of the reactants, or
• (ii) the rate of increase in concentration of
any one of the products.
 The Rate of a Chemical Reaction

Consider a hypothetical reaction, assuming that the volume of

the system remains constant
R→P
One mole of the reactant R produces one mole of the product
P. If [R]1 and [P]1 are the concentrations of R and respectively
at time t1and [R]2 and [P]2 are their concentrations at time t2
then,
Δt = t2 – t1

Δ[R] = [R]2 – [R]1 & Δ [P] = [P]2 – [P]1

The square brackets in the above expressions are used to express molar
concentration.
 The Rate of a Chemical Reaction

• Rate of disappearance of R
= Decrease in concentration of R = − Δ [R]
Time taken Δt

Rate of appearance of P
= Increase in concentration of P = + Δ [P]
Time taken Δt

Since, Δ[R] is a negative quantity (as concentration of reactants is

decreasing), it is multiplied with –1 to make the rate of the reaction a
positive quantity.
 The Rate of a Chemical Reaction
Consider the following chemical reaction -

2 Fe3+(aq) + Sn2+ → 2 Fe2+(aq) +Sn4+(aq)

t = 38.5 s [Fe2+] = 0.0010 M

Δt = 38.5 s Δ[Fe2+] = (0.0010 – 0) M

Δ[Fe2+] 0.0010 M
Rate of formation of Fe2+= = = 2.6x10-5 M s-
Δt 38.5 s
Rates of Chemical Reaction
2 Fe3+(aq) + Sn2+ → 2 Fe2+(aq) + Sn4+(aq)

Δ[Sn4+] 1 Δ[Fe2+] 1 Δ[Fe3+]

= = -
Δt 2 Δt 2 Δt
 General Rate of Reaction
aA+bB→cC+dD
Rate of reaction = rate of disappearance of reactants

1 Δ[A] 1 Δ[B]
=- =-
a Δt b Δt Eqn.1

= rate of appearance of products

1 Δ[C] 1 Δ[D]
= = Eqn.2
c Δt d Δt

1 Δ[A] 1 Δ[B] 1 Δ[C] 1 Δ[D]

or - =- = = Eqn.3
a Δt b Δt c Δt d Δt
 Average rate & Instantaneous rate
 Average rate depends upon the change in conc. of
reactants or products and the time taken for that
change to occur.
Equations 1-3 represent the average rate of a
reaction, rav.
The rate of reaction at a particular moment of
time is called as the instantaneous rate, rins.
It is obtained when we consider the average rate at
the smallest time interval say dt ( i.e. when Δt
approaches zero).
 Average rate & Instantaneous rate
• Mathematically for an infinitesimally small time
interval, dt, instantaneous rate is given by –
• rav = −Δ[R ] = Δ[P ]
Δt Δt
As Δt → 0 or

rins. = - d[R] = d[P]

dt dt
Unit of rate of reaction:– mol L-1 s-1
 Average rate & Instantaneous rate
H2O2(aq) → H2O(l) + ½ O2(g)

-Δ[H2O2]
Rate =
-(-2.32 M / 1360 s) = 1.7 x 10-3 M s-1 Δt

-(-1.7 M / 2600 s) =
6 x 10-4 M s-1

Initial rate ,Average rate over a time period. Instantaneous rate – slope of tangent
lin.
 Factors affecting the Rate of a Chemical
Reaction
1-Nature of reactant : Ionic substance react much faster than
covalent substances.
2-Concencentration of Reactants
: Rate of reaction is directly
proportional to conc. of reactants
(partial pressure in case of gaseous
- phase reactions).
3-Temperature : Rate of reaction increases with increase
in temperature.
4-Presence of Catalyst : A catalyst alters the Rate of a reaction.
5-Surface Area of the Reactants:
Rate of rean. ∝ surface area.
6- Radiations
 Rate Law or Rate Expression and Rate
Constant
• The expression which relates of rate of
reaction to concentration of the reactants is
known as rate law. It is also called as rate
equation or rate expression.
• Consider a general reaction
aA + bB → cC + dD
• where a, b, c and d are the stoichiometric
coefficients of reactants and products.
 Rate Law or Rate Expression and Rate
Constant
• The rate expression for this reaction is -

Rate of reaction ∝ [A]x[B]y

or eqn.4

Rate of reaction = k [A]x[B]y eqn.5

• where exponents x and y may or may not be equal

to the stoichiometric coefficients (a and b) of the
reactants.
 Rate Law or Rate Expression and Rate
Constant
• Equation 5 can also be written as-

d[R] = k[A]x[B]y
dt eqn.6

• This form(eq.6) of equation (5) is known as

differential rate equation, where k is a
proportionality constant called rate constant or
velocity constant or specific reaction rate.
 Rate Law or Rate Expression and Rate
Constant
• Thus, rate law is the expression in which reaction
rate is given in terms of molar concentration of
reactants with each term raised to some power,
which may or may not be same as the
stoichiometric coefficient of the reacting species in
a balanced chemical equation.
• Note:Rate law for any reaction cannot be predicted
by merely looking at the balanced chemical
equation, i.e., theoretically but must be determined
experimentally.
Rate Law or Rate Expression and Rate Constant

• Rate Constant (k) : For a general reaction

aA + bB → cC + dD
Rate of reaction = k [A]x[B]y

Where k is known as rate constant

When [A] = [B] = 1 mol/L, than
Rate of reaction = k

thus rate constant of a chemical reaction may be

defined as the reaction rate when the
concentration of each reactant is unity.
Rate Law or Rate Expression and Rate Constant

 The value of rate constant is definite and

constant for a particular reaction at given
temperature.

 Rate constant is independent of

concentration of reactants it depends only
upon temperature and presence of catalyst.
 Order of a Reaction
• The sum of powers of the concentration of the
reactants in the rate law expression is called the
order of that chemical reaction.
• For a general reaction
aA + bB → cC + dD
Let Rate of reaction = k [A]x[B]y
Here ,
x = order of reaction w.r.t. A
y = order of reaction w.r.t. B
Overall order of reaction(n) = x + y
 Order of a Reaction
Examples of observed rate laws for some reactions follow.
 Order of a Reaction
 Order of a reaction can be 0, 1, 2, 3 and even a
fraction.
 Depending upon order of reaction, reactions are
termed as zero, first or second order reactions.
 A zero order reaction means that the rate of
reaction is independent of the concentration of
reactants.
 Order of reaction cannot be predicted by merely
looking at the balanced chemical equation, i.e.,
theoretically but must be determined
experimentally.
 Order of a Reaction& Units of Rate
Constant
For a nth order reaction- A → Product
Rate = k [A]n

a
Rate concentration 1
k = = x
[A]n time (concentration)n

k = (concentration)1-n time-1
Practice Problems
1.

2.

3. For the reaction

A + B   Products
The following initial rates were obtained at various given intial
concentrations
S. No [A] [B] Rate (mol lt–1 sec–1)
1. 0.1 0.1 0.05
2. 0.2 0.1 0.10
3. 0.1 0.2 0.05
Write rate law and find the rate constant of the above reaction.
 Elementary & complex reactions

Elementary reactions are those which complete is one

step while complex reactions are multistep reactions
where products are obtained after completion of a
sequence of elementary reactions.
e.g. (a) Elementary reaction

(b) Complex reaction

 Molecularity of a Reaction

Molecularity of a reaction is simply the

number of reacting species (atoms, ions or
molecules) involving is an elementary
reaction which must collide simultaneously.
Let us consider the following reactions,
 Molecularity of a Reaction

Q.Why the reactions having molecularity

greater than three is rare ?

Ans:- Since the chances of collision and

reaction of more than three molecules at a
time are very less, the molecularity greater
than three is rare.
 Molecularity of a Reaction

Molecularity in case of complex reactions?

Molecularity of a complex reaction has no meaning.

Actually a complex reaction is the series of two or
more elementary reactions and thus, it completes in
several steps. The slowest step or slowest reaction
determines the rate of the reaction. Hence we find
out the molecularity of the slowest elementary
reaction of a complex reaction which is, in general,
similar to the overall order of the complex reaction.
 Molecularity vs. Order
Molecularity of Reaction Order of Reaction
It is the number of atoms, ions or It is the sum of the power of
molecules that must collide with one concentration terms on which the rate
another simultaneously so as to of reaction actually depends or it is
result into a chemical the sum of powers of the
reaction. concentration terms in the rate law
equation.
Molecularity of reaction Order of reaction can be zero.
Cannot be zero.
It is a theoretical concept. It is determined experimentally.

It is always a whole number. It can even have fractional values.

The overall molecularity of complex Order of reaction is for overall
reaction has no significance. reaction.
Individual step has its own
molecularity.
 Integrated Rate Equations
Zero Order Reactions
Zero order reaction means that the rate of the reaction is
proportional to zero power of the concentration of reactants.
Consider the reaction,
R→P
Integrated Rate Equations
Integrated Rate Equations
 Integrated Rate Equations
First Order Reactions
First order reaction means that the rate of the reaction is
proportional to first power of the concentration of reactants.
Consider the reaction,
R→P
Integrated Rate Equations
Integrated Rate Equations
 Integrated Rate Equations

1. The thermal decomposition of HCOOH is a first order reaction

with a rate constant of 2.4 x 10─3 s ─1 at a certain temperature.
Calculate how long will it take for three-fourth (3/4) of initial
quantity of HCOOH to decompose ? (log 0.25 = − 0.6021 ) [2011]

2.A first order reaction has a rate constant of 0.0051 min─1 . If we

begin with 0.10 M conc. of the reactant, how much conc. of the
reactant will remain is solution after 3 hrs? [2011,09]

3. The rate constant for a reaction of Zero order in A is 0.0030

mol L─1 s─1 . How long will it take for the initial conc. of A to fall
from 0.10 M to .075 M ? [2010]
 Half-Life of a Reaction
The half-life of a reaction is the time in which the
concentration of a reactant is reduced to one half of its initial
concentration. It is represented as t1/2
t1/2 for a Zero Order Reactions
 Half-Life of a Reaction
t1/2 for a First Order Reactions

Thus for a first order

reaction, half-life
period is constant, i.e.,
it is independent of
initial concentration of
the reacting species.
 Half-Life of a Reaction
Practice Problems
1. A first order reaction takes 40 minutes for 30 %
completion . calculate its t1/2 value. (2008,13)

2. The decomposition of phosphine PH3 . Proceeds acc. to

following eqn:
4 PH3 (g) ---> P4(g) + 6H2 (g) ;
It is found that he reaction follows the following rate equation:

Rate = K [PH3] ;
The half lite of PH3 is 37.9 S at 1200C
(a) How much time is required of 3/4th of PH3 to decompose ?
(2) What fraction of original sample of PH3 remains behind
after 1 minute ? (2010,09)
 Pseudo - first order reaction
Reactions which are not truly of the first order but under certain
conditions reactions become that of first order are called
pseudo unimolecular reaction.
For example: Hydrolysis of ester in presence of acid
CH3COOC2H5 + H2O  CH3COOH + C2H5OH
From this reaction, the rate expression should be
r = k [ester] [H2O]
Since, hydrolysis takes place in the excess of H2O and
concentration change of H2O is negligible practically.
therefore, r = k’ [ester]
Where k’ = k[H2O].
 Methods of determining the order of a reaction

Integrated method
The equation which gives a constant value of k decides the order
of reaction
Graphical method
The data are plotted acc to different integrated rate equations
so as to yield a straight line .Slope gives the value of rate
constant
Initial rate method
Concentration of one of the reactant is varied

Half life method

In this method we plot half life of the reactant versus conc. of
the reactant.
 Methods of determining the order of a
reaction

Reaction Differential Integrated rate Characteristic Slope Units of rate

Order rate law law kinetics Plot of constant
kinetic
s plot

Zero  d[A] [A]=[Ao]-kt [A] vs t -k Mole l-1 sec-1

k
dt

First  d[A] [A]=[Ao]e-kt In[A] vs t -k sec-1

k [A]
dt

Second  d[A] [Ao] 1/[A] vs t k L mole-1 sec-1

k [A] 2 A 
dt 1  k  [A]
 Graphical Representation

dx dx dx
dt dt dt

Conc. Conc. (C on c.) 2

zero order first order se co nd o rde r
Graphical representation of rate versus concentrations
 Graphical Representation

Conc. [A] log [A] 1/ [A]

t t t
zero order first order second order

hical representation for concentration of integrated rate equation versus time

 Initial rate method
• This method involves the determination of the order
of each reactant separately.

• To determine the order of a particular reactant, its

concentration is varied keeping the concentrations of
other reactants constant.

• In every experiment, we determine the initial rate of

the reaction and observe the dependence of rate on
that particular reactant.

r  [A]m[B]n Keeping [B] constant

m
m
r1 [A1] [B] n
r1  [A1] 
= m n
; = 
r2 [A2 ] [B] r2  [A2 ] 
 Illustrative Example
Rate of the reaction; A + B = products; is given below as a
function of the initial concentration of ‘A’ and ‘B’.
[A](mol L-1) [B](mol L-1) rate(mol L-1min-1)
0.01 0.01 0.005
0.02 0.01 0.010
0.01 0.02 0.005
Determine the order of the reaction with respect to ‘A’ and ‘B’.
Solution:

For first two experiments, the concentration of the reactant ‘B’ is

constant.
Rate of the reaction depend linearly on reactant ‘A’.
Now, taking experiments first and third, the concentration of the
reactant ‘A’ is constant.
Therefore, rate of the reaction is independent of ‘B’.
Thus, order of the reaction with respect to ‘A’ = one.
Order of the reaction with respect to ‘B’ = zero.
 Half life method

1
t1 / 2 
[A] 0n 1

t1 /2 t 1 /2 t 1 /2

a a 1 /a
z e ro o rd e r f ir s t o r d e r s e c o n d o rd e r
Graphical representation for half lives versus concentration
 Illustrative Example
The half-life of a particular chemical reaction at two different
initial concentrations 5 x 10-4 and 25 x10-5 M are 2 and 16 hours.
Calculate the order of reaction.
Solution:
n 1
(t1 / 2 )2



 
 A  0 
1 

(t1 / 2 )1 

 
 A  0 
2 

n 1
16  5 10 4 
    (2)n 1
2   5 
 25 10 

 8 = (2)n-1
 n - 1 =3
 n=4
Integrated method

In this method, we put the data into the integrated

form of the rate laws and calculate the values of the
rate constants for different kinetics of the reaction.

The order of the reaction is that one for which the value
of rate constant is constant.
 Some first order reactions
Decomposition of H2O2
1
H2O2  H2O  O2
2

Let Vo & Vt be volume of KMnO4 used during zero & time

t respectively

V  a
Vt  a  x
2.303 Vo
k  log
t Vt
Some first order reactions
Hydrolysis of ester
H
CH3COOC2H5  H2O  CH3COOH  C2H5OH
a 0 0
a x x x
0 a a
Let V0 , Vt V be the volume of alkali required for titration
during 0 ,t & infinite time
VO  HCl
Vt  HCl  x
V  HCl  a

V  Vt  a  x 2.303 V  Vo
k  log
V  a t V  Vt
 Theories of chemical kinetics

1. Collision theory

2. Transition state theory

 Collision theory
Reaction occurs when reacting species have sufficient energy
to collide and proper orientation in space.

Energy barrier:
The minimum energy which the colliding particles possess in
order to bring about the chemical reaction is called threshold
energy
The energy difference between threshold energy & average
energy of reacting molecules is called activation energy

Orientation barrier:
Colliding molecules should be in their proper orientation at
the time of collision.
 Transition State Theory
In the activated complex theory, we consider two reactants
approaching and their potential energy rising and reaching a
maximum.

H Ea  Ea`

Activation energy - the energy needed to form activated

complex is called energy of activation. It is very low for some
reactions and very high for others.
 Some Points about Ea

1. Ea is always positive.

2. The larger the value of Ea, the slower the

rate of a reaction at a given temperature.

3. The larger the value of Ea, the steeper the

slope of (ln k) vs (1/T). A high activation
energy corresponds to a reaction rate that
is very sensitive to temperature.
 Effect of temperature on rate of chemical reaction

For a chemical reaction with rise in temperature by 10°,

the rate constant is nearly doubled

k(T+10)
The ratio kT is called the temperature
coefficient and its value is 2 or 3
 Effect of temperature on rate of chemical reaction

Arrhenius equation

The temperature dependence of the rate of a chemical reaction

can be accurately explained by Arrhenius equation
-Ea/ RT
k = A.e
A is frequency factor or Arhenius constant, Ea is activation
energy

or

Plot of log k vs 1/T is a straight line & slope = ̶ Ea/2.303R

 Effect of temperature on rate of chemical reaction

Plot of ln k vs 1/T is a straight line & slope =-Ea/R

 Effect of temperature on rate of chemical reaction

At temperature T1 Eqn.1

At temperature T2 Eqn.2

k1 and k2 are the values of rate constants at temperatures T1 and T2

respectively. Subtracting equation (2) from (1), we obtain
Effect of temperature on rate of chemical reaction

-Ea/ RT
k = A.e

k2 Ea  1 1
or log =  - 
k1 2.303 R  T1 T2 
 Illustrative Example

The specific reaction rate for a reaction increases by a factor 4 if

the temperature is changed from 27o C to 47o C. Find the activation
energy for the reaction.
Solution:
 K2  Ea  T2 - T1 
log10  =  
 K1  2.303 R  T1T2 
Ea  320 - 300 
log4 =  
2.303×1.987  300×320 

0.60205×2.303×1.987×300×320
Ea =
20

= 13222.98 cals
Ea = 13.311 K cals
Illustrative Example

The activation energy of one of the reactions in the Krebs citric

acid cycle is 87 kJ/mol. What is the change in the rate constant
when the temperature falls from 37oC to 15oC?
Solution:
 Catalysis

Catalyst: A substance that changes the rate of a reaction

without being consumed in the reaction.

• Provides an easier way to react.

• Lower activation energy.
• Still make the same products.
• Enzymes are biological catalysts.

Inhibitor: A substance that decreases the rate of reaction (a

negative catalyst).
How catalyst change reaction rate

• Catalysts are
the one way to
lower the
energy of
activation
for a particular
reaction by
altering the
path of the
reaction.

• The lower
activation
energy allows
the reaction to
proceed faster.
 Rate Law and Mechanism
A mechanism is a collection of elementary steps devised to
explain the reaction in view of the observed rate law.
For the reaction, 2 NO2 (g) + F2 (g)  2 NO2F (g), the rate law
is,
rate = k [NO2] [F2] .
Can the elementary reaction be the same as the overall
reaction?
If they were the same the rate law would have been
rate = k [NO2]2 [F2],
Therefore, the overall reaction is not an elementary
reaction.
 Rate-determining Step in a Mechanism

Slowest step:
The rate determining step is the slowest elementary step
in a mechanism, and the rate law for this step is the rate
law for the overall reaction.

Steady-state approximation:
The steady-state approximation is a general method for
deriving rate laws when the relative speed cannot be
identified. It is based on the assumption that the
concentration of the intermediate is constant.
 Illustrative Problem

The hypothetical reaction A2+ B2  2AB

ollows the following mechanism
A2  A + A (fast)
A + B2  AB + B (slow)

A B  AB (fast)

The order of the overall reaction is

(a) 0 (b) 1

(c) 2 (d) 3/2

 Solution

he order depends on slowest step

 Rate(slow step) = k[A][B2 ]

= k[B2 ].k` [A2 ]1/ 2
= k"[A2 ]1/ 2[B2 ]
1 3
Overall order   1 
2 2
Hence, the answer is (d).
Illustrative Problem

At 380° C, the half-life period for the first order

decomposition of H2O2 is 360 min. The energy of
activation of the reaction is 200 kJ mole-1. Calculate the
time required for 75% decomposition at 450° C.
 Solution

0.693
k380 = =1.925×10-3 min-1
360

k 450 200×103  1 1 
 log =  - 
k380 2.303×8.314  653 723 

k 450
log =1.55  k 450 = 6.83×10-2
1.925×10-3

0.693
t 1 at 450°C = =10.15 min
6.83×10-2
2

t75% = 2t 1 = 20.29 min.

2
Thank you