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Chemistry Revision Guides

Kinetics and Equilibria

Year 1 / ASYear 2 / A-Level All Boards (AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, CCEA) AQA

A-Level Chemistry revision: Kinetics and Equilibria. Learning objectives, key points, worked examples and practice questions across AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC and CCEA.

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๐Ÿ“Œ Key Points

Key Fact: Rate = Delta[conc]/Deltat; collision theory: effective collisions need E >= Ea and correct orientation
Key Fact: Maxwell-Boltzmann: at higher T, more molecules exceed Ea -> exponentially more effective collisions
Key Fact: Rate law: rate = k[A]แต[B]โฟ; m,n = order (not necessarily stoichiometric); overall order = m+n
Key Fact: 1st order: rate = k[A]; tยฝ = ln2/k (constant); ln[A] = -kt + ln[A]โ‚€
Key Fact: Arrhenius: ln k = -Ea/RT + ln A; plot ln k vs 1/T gives slope -Ea/R
Key Fact: Le Chatelier: system shifts to oppose change. Conc: shift to consume added; Pressure: shift to fewer gas moles; Temp: exo shifts left on heating
Key Fact: Kc = [products]/[reactants] (equilibrium conc, powers = coeffs); Kp uses partial pressures
Key Fact: Kp = Kc(RT)^Deltan where Deltan = moles gas products - moles gas reactants
Key Fact: Catalyst: lowers Ea, increases rate equally both directions; NO effect on K or equilibrium position

๐ŸŽฏ Learning Objectives

  • Explain collision theory and factors affecting rate: concentration, temperature, catalyst, surface area
  • Use Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution to explain temperature effect
  • Derive and use rate equations: rate = k[A]แต[B]โฟ; determine order experimentally
  • Calculate rate constant k and half-life for 1st order reactions
  • Understand activation energy and Arrhenius equation: k = Ae^(-Ea/RT)
  • Apply Le Chatelier's principle to changes in concentration, pressure, temperature
  • Write Kc and Kp expressions; relate Kp = Kc(RT)^(Deltan)
  • Understand effect of catalysts on rate and equilibrium position

๐Ÿ’ก Worked Example

Exam-Style Question

Question: For Nโ‚‚ + 3Hโ‚‚ โ‡Œ 2NHโ‚ƒ, DeltaH = -92 kJ/mol. Predict effect on yield of: (a) increasing pressure, (b) increasing temperature, (c) adding Fe catalyst

Model Answer:

(a) 4 mol gas -> 2 mol gas: shift right -> higher yield. (b) Exothermic: heating shifts left -> lower yield. (c) Catalyst speeds up both forward/reverse equally -> no effect on yield, reaches equilibrium faster

โ“ Practice Questions

Questions:

  • Rate = k[A][B]^2. If [A] doubled and [B] tripled, rate factor?
  • Half-life of 1st order reaction is 10 min. k = ?
  • For 2SOโ‚‚ + Oโ‚‚ โ‡Œ 2SOโ‚ƒ, write Kp. If P_total doubled, effect on yield?
  • Why does increasing temperature increase rate constant?
  • Explain why catalyst doesn't change equilibrium constant

๐ŸŽฌ Video Resources

๐Ÿ“„ Past Papers & Exam Resources

๐Ÿ”— Further Reading & Resources