ABSTRACT
Chemical kinetics In the earlier chapters, we presented the reaction rates as a function of temperature and the concentration of the species involved. In this chapter, we will elaborate on the theories behind the concentration dependencies, temperature dependencies, and how the overall reaction mechanisms are proposed and elucidated. In such a context, it is reasonable to start from
a general description of the reaction rate:
Rate = −k e A BE RTA [ ] [ ]/ a b (5.1)
We have already dened the rate constant and its relation to thermodynamics in Chapter 4. Here, we will delve into the two fundamental theories behind the overall rate expression given by Equation 5.1, the so-called collision theory and transition state theory. There are some excellent textbooks on chemical kinetics; the reader is directed to the list in Bibliography for further details.
