In this video, we will introduce an important field in chemistry called kinetics. By the end of this video, you will hopefully be more confident defining and describing kinetics. We have seen how the kinetic molecular theory of matter helps explain the behavior of ideal gases and violations of the kinetic molecular theory helps us to explain and rationalize non-ideal gas behavior and the condensed phases of matter, solids and liquids. Again, having a good picture of what is happening on a molecular level can help make some of the more abstract topics and concepts of chemistry generally, and kinetics specifically, less intimidating. Recall we first started with no violations to the kinetic molecular theory.
This gave us a model for ideal gases where particles bounce off each other with no interactions. We then started seeing violations to the kinetic molecular theory. where we acknowledge particles can take up space and stick together.
This helped us explain non-ideal gas and condensed, i.e. liquid and solid, phase behavior. Now we are ready to consider when particles interact in such a way to break and make bonds, in other words, chemical reactions. We will begin this discussion by considering chemical kinetics. Starting with its origin, the word kinetics itself comes from the Greek word for moving or putting into motion. When applied to chemistry, the goals of chemical kinetics are, 1. How fast does a chemical reaction occur?
In other words, how fast the reactants are consumed and how fast the products are made. And 2. How the reaction occurs on a molecular scale. While less obvious from the name and a little more confusing, how the reaction occurs on a molecular scale is a really important topic of chemical kinetics. Don't worry if this sounds confusing or intimidating.
We'll unpack this a little later. And that concludes our video introducing kinetics. Hopefully, now that you have a little better understanding of what chemical kinetics actually is, you are ready and excited to delve a little deeper.