The rate of a reaction is a measure of how fast reactants are converted into products in a chemical reaction.
Key points:
- Definition: It tells us the change in concentration of a reactant or product per unit time.
- Units: Usually expressed in moles per liter per second (mol L⁻¹ s⁻¹).
- Factors affecting rate: Concentration, temperature, pressure, surface area, catalysts, and inhibitors.
- Calculation example:
- If the concentration of a reactant decreases by 0.1 M in 10 seconds, the average rate = 0.1 ÷ 10 = 0.01 M/s.
- Instantaneous vs average rate:
- Average rate: Over a period of time.
- Instantaneous rate: At a specific moment, often found from the slope of a concentration vs. time graph.