AP Chemistry Unit 5 Vocab

reaction mechanism

• the step-by-step sequence of reactions by which the overall chemical change occurs;
  "the directions"

• a single reaction that occurs without any intermediate steps

• the final product of a chemical reaction

• the energy required to initiate a reaction

termolecular reaction

• elementary reaction involving the simultaneous collision and combination of three reactant species - this is very unlikely

• reaction involving two reactant species colliding simultaneously

• reaction that occurs in a single step with one reactant species

• complex reaction involving multiple steps and intermediates

Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution

• The distribution of energies (and therefore speeds) of the molecules in a gas or liquid.

• The process by which gas molecules escape from a liquid phase.

• The relationship between temperature and pressure in a gas.

• The average kinetic energy of molecules in a solid.

kinetic energy

• the energy an atom/molecule has due to its motion

• the energy stored in an object due to its position

• the energy released during a chemical reaction

• the energy associated with the temperature of an object

reaction rate equation

• A formula that connects the speed of a chemical reaction with the concentration of its reactants

• An equation that describes the energy changes in a reaction

• A method to calculate the temperature of a reaction

• A formula that determines the volume of gas produced in a reaction

order of reactant

• The power to which the reactant's concentration is raised in the rate-law expression.

• The total number of reactants in a chemical reaction.

• The temperature at which a reaction occurs most efficiently.

• The time taken for a reactant to be completely consumed.

bimolecular reaction

• An elementary reaction involving the collision of two reactant species

• A reaction that involves three reactant species

• A reaction that occurs in a single step

• A reaction that does not involve any reactants

catalyst

• substance that increases reaction rate by stabilizing transition state, decreasing the activation energy

• a substance that slows down a chemical reaction

• a compound that is consumed in a reaction

• a mixture that does not affect the reaction rate

steady state approximation

• It indicates that the concentration of a species is increasing over time.

• It can be used when the differential rate law for an intermediate is equal to zero.

• It suggests that the reaction will proceed to completion without any intermediates.

• It implies that the rate of formation of products is greater than the rate of consumption of reactants.

homogeneous catalysis

• A reaction where the catalyst and reactants are in different physical states.

• A reaction in which the catalyst and reactants are in the same physical state (i.e., reactants in the elephant's toothpaste demo are liquids + liquid catalyst)

• A reaction that occurs only in gaseous phase.

• A reaction that requires a solid catalyst to proceed.