AP®︎ Chemistry: Topic 5.8 Flashcards

Master key terms and definitions for Topic 5.8 of AP Chemistry – Reaction Mechanism and Rate Law to help you prep for quizzes and the AP exam.

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Term

Reaction Mechanism

Definition

A sequence of elementary steps that shows how reactants become products.

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Reaction Mechanism
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A sequence of elementary steps that shows how reactants become products.

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Elementary Step
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A single molecular event in a mechanism that occurs exactly as written.

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Rate-Determining Step / Rate-Limiting Step
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The slowest step in a mechanism that controls the overall reaction rate.

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Molecularity
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The number of reacting particles in an elementary step, such as unimolecular or bimolecular.

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Rate Law from a Slow Elementary Step
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Use reactant coefficients in the slow step as exponents in the rate law.

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Intermediate
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A species produced in one step and consumed in a later step.

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Overall Reaction from a Mechanism
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Add all elementary steps and cancel intermediates to obtain the net balanced equation.

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Experimental Rate Law vs. Mechanism-Derived Rate Law
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Overall rate laws are determined experimentally and used to test whether a proposed mechanism is valid.

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