APPLIED CHEMICAL KINETICS.

The basic definitions of elementary steps, reaction mechanisms, concepts of a rate determining and/or rate limiting steps are discussed. The overall structure of chemical kinetics is presented, recognizing that several different problems each of a unique character must be solved. The next problem is that of understanding and predicting the rate at which the elementary reactions themselves take place. In this part of the course several different approaches to the theoretical description of chemical kinetics are given in some detail. The first of three is collision theory followed by a vibrational analysis of unimolecular reactions, and finally the presentation of transition state theory. These subjects comprise about the first one-half of the course and complete the theoretical presentation of fundamental chemical kinetics. The remaining portion of the course is devoted to a description of various types of technologically important types of situations in which an understanding of chemical kinetics and in some cases the coupling of chemical kinetics with certain transport processes is essential. In the last portion of the course the kinetics and thermodynamics of adsorption is presented as a basis for a discussion of generalized catalytic phenomena.