Work through the list without notes. If you cannot do a statement, follow its link, then come back. Guide = study guide; Practice = practice questions.
Understanding
- I can explain why ΔG° tells me whether a process is favoured but not how fast it goes. (Guide: “Favoured is not the same as fast”)
- I can define kinetic control: favoured (ΔG° < 0) but with no measurable rate. (Guide: “Kinetic control: what the term means”; Practice Q1)
- I can name a high activation energy as the usual cause of kinetic control. (Guide: Figure 1; Practice Q5(c))
- I can state that a catalyst lowers Eₐ but leaves ΔG° unchanged. (Guide: Worked example 2; Practice Q2)
Skills
- I can calculate ΔG° from ΔG°f values to show that a slow process is favoured. (Guide: Worked examples 1 and 2; Practice Q3)
- I can read a schematic energy profile and point to the barrier and the overall drop. (Guide: Figure 1; Practice Q5)
- I can calculate a reverse activation energy from the forward Eₐ and ΔH°. (Practice Q5(b))
Reasoning
- I can explain, in terms of collisions, why a high Eₐ makes a favoured reaction too slow to observe. (Guide: “Why a favoured reaction can be slow”; Practice Q5(c))
- I can argue that a system showing no change is not at equilibrium by comparing Q with K. (Guide: “Kinetic control is not equilibrium”; Practice Q4, Q6(c))
- I can describe a test (catalyst or spark) that tells kinetic control apart from equilibrium. (Guide: table; Practice Q6(d))
- I can tell a process under kinetic control from one that is not favoured at all. (Guide: “Kinetic control or not favoured?”; Practice Q7)
- I can explain why diamond survives at room temperature even though graphite is more stable. (Guide: Worked example 1)
All ticked? Move on to Topic 9.5, Free Energy and Equilibrium, or return to the course roadmap.