Chemical Kinetics

Understanding the speeds of chemical reactions is the focus of the physical chemistry field of chemical kinetics, commonly referred to as reaction kinetics. Contrast that with chemical thermodynamics, which focuses on the direction in which a reaction takes place but says nothing about the pace of the process. Chemical kinetics comprises studies of how experimental circumstances affect a chemical reaction's rate and reveal details about the reaction's mechanism and transition phases, as well as the creation of mathematical models that can also characterise a chemical reaction's features. The physical condition of a reactant—whether it is solid, liquid, or gas—affects the rate of change significantly. Thermal motion causes reactants that are in the same phase, such as aqueous solution, to come into contact. The reaction, however, is only possible at the interface where the reactants are in different phases. Only at the point of contact, or at the surface of a liquid in the case of a gas and a liquid. To complete the reaction, vigorous shaking and stirring may be required. This indicates that the faster the reaction, the more finely divided the solid or liquid reactant is, the bigger its surface area per unit volume and the more contact it has with the other reactant.