Chemical Reaction Rates and Equilibrium

A chemical reaction is a process in which one or more reactants change chemically to produce one or more products. Reaction kinetics is the study of the speed of a reaction – the “reaction rate” – how quickly the reactants are consumed and the products are produced. Several factors can affect reaction rate, including temperature, pressure, concentration, surface area, and the presence of a catalyst. Some chemical reactions are reversible – the reactants can form products, and the products can revert into reactants. In a closed system, reversible reactions will eventually reach an equilibrium point, with reactants and products both present. The equilibrium point can shift towards the reactant side or product side by changing the reactant concentration, temperature, or pressure, or the products can be stabilized so that they cannot revert back into reactants. In this course, we look at how chemical reactions occur and the impact of several factors on reaction rate. We also cover different types of catalysts, reversible reactions, the equilibrium point, and the stabilization of products.