Key term
AQA A-Level Chemistry 7405
Atomic Structure
Topic overviewFundamental ParticlesMass Number and IsotopesTime of Flight Mass Spectrometry: Ionisation and AccelerationTime of Flight Mass Spectrometry: Drift, Detection and Calculating m/zElectron Configuration: Sub-shells and OrbitalsElectron Configuration: Writing Configurations for Atoms and IonsIonisation Energies and Periodic Trends
Amount of Substance
Topic overviewRelative Atomic and Molecular MassThe Mole and the Avogadro ConstantThe Ideal Gas EquationEmpirical and Molecular FormulaBalanced Equations and Reaction CalculationsAtom Economy and Percentage YieldAcid-Base Titrations: Principles, Indicators and ApparatusAcid-Base Titrations: Standard Solutions and Calculations
Bonding
Topic overviewIonic BondingCovalent, Dative Covalent and Metallic BondingCrystal Structures: Giant Ionic Lattices and DiamondCrystal Structures: Graphite and Simple Molecular SolidsShapes of Molecules and Ions: VSEPR and Electron Pair RepulsionShapes of Molecules and Ions: Predicting Shapes and Bond AnglesElectronegativity and Bond PolarityIntermolecular Forces
Energetics and Thermodynamics
Kinetics
Topic overviewCollision Theory and Activation EnergyMaxwell-Boltzmann Distribution and the Effect of TemperatureEffect of Concentration and Pressure, and CatalystsRate Equations: The Rate Equation and Orders of ReactionRate Equations: The Effect of Concentration on RateThe Rate Constant and the Arrhenius EquationDetermining Rate Equations: The Initial Rates MethodDetermining Rate Equations: Continuous MonitoringRate Equations and Reaction Mechanisms
Chemical Equilibria
Redox and Electrochemistry
Topic overviewRedox: Definitions and the Rules for Oxidation StatesRedox: Identifying Oxidation and Reduction in a ReactionHalf-Equations and Combined Redox EquationsStandard Electrode Potentials and the Hydrogen ElectrodeElectrochemical Cells and EMF CalculationsPredicting Redox Reactions from Electrode PotentialsCommercial Cells and Fuel Cells
Acids and Bases
Periodicity and Group Chemistry
Topic overviews, p, d and f Block ClassificationTrends in Period 3Group 2 Trends in Atomic Radius, Ionisation Energy and Melting PointReactions of Group 2 with WaterSolubility Trends of Group 2 HydroxidesSolubility Trends of Group 2 SulfatesUses of Group 2 CompoundsTest for Sulfate IonsTrends in Electronegativity and Boiling Point of HalogensHalogens as Oxidising Agents and Displacement ReactionsHalide Ions as Reducing Agents: Chloride and BromideHalide Ions as Reducing Agents: Iodide, and the EquationsTest for Halide Ions Using Silver NitrateTests for Ammonium, Group 2, Hydroxide and Carbonate IonsReactions of Chlorine with WaterReactions of Chlorine with Cold Dilute NaOH and Water Treatment
Period 3 Elements and Their Oxides
Topic overviewReactions of Na and Mg with WaterPeriod 3 Elements with Oxygen: The Oxides Formed and Their BondingPeriod 3 Elements with Oxygen: Structures and Oxidation StatesMelting Points of Period 3 OxidesPeriod 3 Oxides with Water: Sodium and Magnesium OxidesPeriod 3 Oxides with Water: The Acidic Oxides and the pH TrendPeriod 3 Oxides with Acids and Bases: The ReactionsPeriod 3 Oxides with Acids and Bases: Acidic, Basic and Amphoteric
Transition Metals
Topic overviewGeneral Properties of Transition MetalsComplex Ions: Ligands, Coordinate Bonds and DenticityComplex Ions: Why a Species Can Act as a Ligand, and Coordination NumberSubstitution Reactions with Monodentate LigandsSubstitution Reactions with Bidentate and Multidentate LigandsHaemoglobin and the Chelate EffectShapes of Complex Ions and StereoisomerismFormation of Coloured Ions and the d-d TransitionColorimetry and Concentration DeterminationVariable Oxidation States and Vanadium ChemistryTollens' Reagent and Redox TitrationsHeterogeneous CatalysisVanadium(V) Oxide and the Contact ProcessHomogeneous Catalysis and AutocatalysisMetal-Aqua Ions and AcidityMetal Aqua Ions with Bases: Reactions with Hydroxide and AmmoniaMetal Aqua Ions with Bases: Why They React, and Their EquationsAmphoteric HydroxidesIdentifying Transition Metal Ions by Test-Tube Reactions
Introduction to Organic Chemistry
Hydrocarbons
Topic overviewAlkanes, Fractional Distillation and CrackingCombustion of Alkanes and PollutantsFree Radical Chlorination of AlkanesAlkenes: Structure, Bonding and Electrophilic AdditionMarkovnikov's Rule and Carbocation StabilityAddition Polymers and Repeating UnitsProperties and Uses of Polyalkenes
Halogenoalkanes, Alcohols and Organic Analysis
Topic overviewNucleophilic Substitution of HalogenoalkanesEffect of Bond Enthalpy on Reaction RateElimination Reactions and Competing MechanismsCFCs and Ozone DepletionIndustrial Production of AlcoholsBiofuels and Carbon NeutralityClassification and Oxidation of AlcoholsDistinguishing Aldehydes and KetonesElimination of Water from AlcoholsTest-Tube Reactions for Functional GroupsMass Spectrometry and Molecular FormulaInfrared Spectroscopy, Functional Groups and Global Warming
Carbonyls, Carboxylic Acids and Derivatives
Topic overviewOxidation of Aldehydes and Distinguishing TestsReduction of Carbonyls with NaBH4Nucleophilic Addition with KCN and Hydroxynitrile FormationHazards of KCN and Formation of EnantiomersStructure and Acidity of Carboxylic AcidsEsterification and the Uses of EstersVegetable Oils, Fats and the Hydrolysis of EstersSoap and Biodiesel Production from FatsStructure of Acid Anhydrides, Acyl Chlorides and AmidesNucleophilic Addition-Elimination Reactions of Acyl ChloridesAcid Anhydrides and the Industrial Synthesis of AspirinPurifying organic solids and liquids
Aromatic Chemistry and Amines
Topic overviewBonding and Stability of BenzeneElectrophilic Substitution: NitrationElectrophilic Substitution: Friedel-Crafts AcylationPreparation of Aliphatic and Aromatic AminesBase Strength of AminesAmines as Nucleophiles, and Quaternary Ammonium SaltsAmines with Acyl Chlorides and Acid Anhydrides
Polymers, Amino Acids, Proteins and DNA
Topic overviewCondensation Polymers: PolyestersCondensation Polymers: PolyamidesIntermolecular Forces in Condensation PolymersBiodegradability and Disposal of PolymersAmino Acids and ZwitterionsPeptide Bonds and Protein StructureHydrogen Bonding and Disulfide Bridges in ProteinsHydrolysis of Proteins and TLC IdentificationEnzymes, Active Sites and Inhibitors in Drug DesignDNA: Nucleotides, the Double Helix and Base PairingCisplatin and Anticancer Drug Action
Organic Synthesis, NMR and Chromatography
Topic overviewMulti-Step Synthesis RoutesGreen Chemistry Principles in Synthesis DesignPrinciples of NMR and the Delta ScaleCarbon-13 NMR InterpretationProton NMR Chemical Shift and IntegrationSpin-Spin Splitting and the n+1 RuleTMS and Deuterated SolventsThin-Layer Chromatography and Rf ValuesColumn and Gas Chromatography, and GC-MS
Kinetics
- 9 subtopics
- 27 things to know
- Papers 2 and 3
What Kinetics covers
Kinetics is examined on Papers 2 and 3. The first half explains rate qualitatively through collisions and the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution; the second half makes it quantitative with rate equations, the Arrhenius equation, and what the rate-determining step reveals about a mechanism.
Where it is assessed
Papers 2 and 3
Organic and the physical chemistry behind it, then the synoptic paper.
Check the AQA specification ↗The 9 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Collision Theory and Activation EnergyThe two conditions a successful collision needs, and what activation energy is.Open →
- Maxwell-Boltzmann Distribution and the Effect of TemperatureReading the distribution curve, and what raising the temperature does to the molecules beyond the activation energy.Open →
- Effect of Concentration and Pressure, and CatalystsCollision frequency, and how a catalyst provides an alternative route of lower activation energy.Open →
- Rate Equations: The Rate Equation and Orders of ReactionThe form rate = k[A]ᵐ[B]ⁿ, what the rate constant means, and order with respect to a reactant and overall.Open →
- Rate Equations: The Effect of Concentration on RateWhat doubling or tripling a concentration does to the rate at zero, first and second order.Open →
- The Rate Constant and the Arrhenius EquationThe units of k, and using the Arrhenius equation and its logarithmic form.Open →
- Determining Rate Equations: The Initial Rates MethodFinding orders by comparing initial rates across experiments where one concentration is changed at a time.Open →
- Determining Rate Equations: Continuous MonitoringFollowing one reaction throughout by colorimetry, conductivity or gas volume, taking gradients from the concentration-time graph, and reading orders from a rate-concentration graph.Open →
- Rate Equations and Reaction MechanismsThe rate-determining step, and what a species appearing in the rate equation tells you.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Evaluation
What happens to the rate when the concentration of a zero, first or second order reactant is doubled?
Who and when
What two conditions must be met for a reaction to occur according to collision theory?
Key term
What does a Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution show?
Key term
What is represented on the x-axis of a Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution curve?
Key term
How does increasing the concentration of a reactant affect collision frequency?
Key term
Why does increasing concentration increase the rate of a reaction?
Key term
What is the general form of a rate equation?
Key term
What is meant by the order of reaction with respect to a particular reactant?
Key term
What happens to the rate of reaction if the concentration of a zero order reactant is doubled?
Key term
What is the rate constant in a rate equation?
Key term
What are the units of the rate constant dependent upon?
Key term
What is the initial rates method used to determine?
Key term
In the initial rates method, what is measured at the very start of a reaction?
Key term
What is the continuous monitoring method used to determine?
Key term
In the continuous monitoring method, what is measured throughout the course of a reaction?
Key term
What is the rate-determining step of a reaction?
Key term
How does the rate-determining step relate to the overall rate equation?
Key term
What is meant by the term "activation energy"?
Key term
What is represented on the y-axis of a Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution curve?
Key term
How does increasing the pressure of a gaseous reaction mixture affect collision frequency?
Key term
What is the overall order of a reaction?
Key term
What happens to the rate of reaction if the concentration of a first order reactant is doubled?
Key term
How do you determine the units of the rate constant for a given rate equation?
Key term
Why is the initial rate measured rather than the rate at a later time in the initial rates method?
Key term
What type of graph is plotted to determine the order of reaction using the continuous monitoring method?
Process
If a species appears in the rate equation, what can be concluded about its involvement in the mechanism?
Take Kinetics further
The same content, four other ways.
Commonly confused
Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.
Activation energy vs A catalyst
Activation energy: the minimum energy a colliding pair must have for a reaction to occur. A catalyst: a substance that provides an alternative route of lower energy without being used up.
The order of reaction vs The rate constant
The order of reaction: the power to which a reactant's concentration is raised in the rate equation. The rate constant: the proportionality constant linking the rate to those concentration terms.
A zero order reactant vs A first order reactant
A zero order reactant: one whose concentration has no effect at all on the rate. A first order reactant: one for which doubling the concentration doubles the rate.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What two conditions must be met for a reaction to occur according to collision theory?
Model answer
Particles must collide with energy equal to or greater than the activation energy, and they must collide with the correct orientation.
- 2
What is meant by the term "activation energy"?
Model answer
The minimum energy that colliding particles must have for a reaction to occur.
- 3
Why do particles need to collide with a minimum amount of energy for a reaction to occur?
Model answer
This minimum energy is required to break the bonds in the reactants and initiate the reaction.
- 4
What happens if colliding particles do not have energy equal to or greater than the activation energy?
Model answer
The particles bounce apart without reacting.
- 5
Besides having sufficient energy, what other requirement must be met for a successful collision?
Model answer
The particles must collide with the correct orientation.
- 6
Why is correct orientation important during a collision?
Model answer
The reactive parts of the molecules must come into contact for bonds to break and new bonds to form.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Kinetics revision questions
- What does Kinetics cover in AQA A-Level Chemistry?
- 9 subtopics: collision theory and activation energy, maxwell-boltzmann distribution and the effect of temperature, effect of concentration and pressure, and catalysts, rate equations: the rate equation and orders of reaction, rate equations: the effect of concentration on rate, the rate constant and the arrhenius equation, determining rate equations: the initial rates method, determining rate equations: continuous monitoring and rate equations and reaction mechanisms. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Kinetics organised?
- By the AQA 7405 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Kinetics, on a schedule.
Attempt a question from memory, write the correct version, then attempt it again. Levo records the jump between your first attempt and your last, and brings each question back on the day you are due to forget it.
Or £46 a year, about £3.83 a month. Cancel anytime.