Class notes Chemistry THE ABCs OF HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

Chemical kinetics is the branch of chemistry that studies how fast chemical reactions occur and what factors affect their rate. In simple words, it explains the speed of a reaction and the steps by which reactants change into products. What chemical kinetics studies Rate of reaction – how quickly reactants are converted into products Reaction mechanism – the step-by-step process of a reaction Factors affecting reaction rate Factors affecting the rate of reaction 1. Concentration of reactants Higher concentration → more collisions → faster reaction 2. Temperature Higher temperature → particles move faster → reaction rate increases 3. Surface area Finely divided solids react faster than large pieces 4. Catalyst A catalyst speeds up a reaction without being consumed 5. Nature of reactants Some substances react faster than others Importance of chemical kinetics Helps in industrial production (fertilizers, medicines, plastics) Useful in environmental chemistry (pollution control) Important in biological processes (enzyme reactions)