Empirical chemical kinetics

This chapter evaluates how the first step in the investigation of the rate and mechanism of a reaction is the determination of the overall stoichiometry of the reaction and the identification of any side reactions. The next step is to determine how the concentrations of the reactants and products change with time after the reaction has been initiated. Because the rates at which reactants are consumed and products are formed change in the course of a reaction, it is necessary to consider the instantaneous rate of the reaction, its rate at a specific instant. The chapter then defines the unique rate. Ultimately, the rates of chemical reactions are measured by using techniques that monitor the concentrations of species present in the reaction mixture. Techniques of chemical kinetics include spectrophotometry, real-time and quenching procedures, flow and stopped-flow techniques, and flash photolysis.