Introduction
Video Course
Science Topics
Diagnostic Tests
Physics Flashcards
Orgo Mechanisms
Question Server
Physiology Puzzles
Writing Section
Verbal Reasoning
Web Links
WikiPremed Bundle

Contact Us

Log In
Cart Contents
Checkout

Integrated SequencePhysics Chemistry Organic Biology
Chemical Kinetics
Rate Expressions
Determining Reaction Order
Reaction Dynamics
Collision Theory
Transition State Theory
Catalysis
Kinetic vs. Thermodynamic Control

Web Resources

Purdue University - Chemical Kinetics
Thorough tutorial on this important topic for the MCAT.



  click if a link is broken



Special points of emphasis

Chemical Kinetics

A reaction rate is the speed at which reagents are consumed and products are created. Chemical Kinetics is the study of the rate of chemical reactions. Because the rate of a chemical reaction depends on its pathway, different kinetics may apply for the same overall transformation if it can occur through a variety of mechanisms. Path dependence fundamentally distinguishes the propositions of Chemical Kinetics from those of Chemical Thermodynamics. Chemical Thermodynamics depends solely on the comparison of the initial and final state of the system and surroundings, without recourse to discussion of the reaction pathway, unlike Chemical Kinetics. The use of a catalyst, for example, will change the kinetics of a reaction, but it will not change the position of equilibrium, which is a thermodynamic function.

Chemical Kinetics problems involving number crunching are rare on the MCAT. However, conceptual questions involving Chemical Kinetics are very common on the test. Chemical kinetics lends itself especially well to the MCAT passage format where passages presenting data can lead to questions involving inference of reaction order, for example, or where the application of kinetics principles allows one to judge among various reaction mechanisms. In the construction of multiple choice questions, the MCAT writers are also fond of questions that make sure students don''t confuse the propositions of Chemical Kinetics, which depend on the reaction pathway, with the concepts of Chemical Thermodynamics, which do not depend on the mechanism.



The WikiPremed MCAT Course is a free comprehensive course in the undergraduate level general sciences. Undergraduate level physics, chemistry, organic chemistry and biology are presented by this course as a unified whole within a spiraling curriculum.

Please read our policies on privacy and shipping & returns.  Contact Us.
MCAT is a registered trademark of the Association of American Medical Colleges, which does not endorse the WikiPremed Course.


Creative Commons License
The work of WikiPremed is published under a Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 3.0 License. There are elements of work here, such as a subset of the images in the archive from WikiPedia, that originated as GNU General Public License works, so take care to follow the unique stipulations of that license in printed reproductions. You can use the resources here for commercial or non-commercial purposes, but please give attribution and a link to the production credits and edit history of the resource. For the works here which began as my individual work, please attribute "John Wetzel, an author at wikipremed.com".