Chemical Reactions

6.1 Speed of reaction

(a) describe the effect of concentration, pressure, particle size and temperature on the speeds of reactions and explain these effects in terms of collisions between reacting particles


(b) define the term catalyst and describe the effect of catalysts (including enzymes) on the speeds of reactions


(c) explain how pathways with lower activation energies account for the increase in speeds of reactions (see also 5(b))


(d) state that some compounds act as catalysts in a range of industrial processes and that enzymes are biological catalysts (see also 5(b), 6.1(c), 8.3(b) and 10(d))


(e) suggest a suitable method for investigating the effect of a given variable on the speed of a reaction


(f) interpret data obtained from experiments concerned with speed of reaction.


6.2 Redox

(a) define oxidation and reduction (redox) in terms of oxygen/hydrogen gain/loss


(b) define redox in terms of electron transfer and changes in oxidation state


(c) identify redox reactions in terms of oxygen/hydrogen gain/loss, electron gain/loss and changes in oxidation state


(d) describe the use of aqueous potassium iodide and acidified potassium manganate(VII) in testing for oxidising and reducing agents from the resulting colour changes.