Chemical Kinetics

A study of chemical thermodynamics allows us to understand why chemical reactions occur. Despite the inclusion of the term ‘dynamics’, such a study tells us nothing about the speeds of chemical reactions. The study of chemical kinetics is concerned with the measurement of the speeds (or rates) of reactions together with the factors which affect these rates. As we shall see, kinetics leads us to an understanding of how chemical reactions occur. Also, almost as a bonus, kinetic studies give access to some thermodynamic data.