Table of contents

1. Intro to General Chemistry3h 48m
2. Atoms & Elements4h 16m
3. Chemical Reactions4h 10m
4. BONUS: Lab Techniques and Procedures1h 38m
5. BONUS: Mathematical Operations and Functions48m
6. Chemical Quantities & Aqueous Reactions3h 53m
7. Gases3h 49m
8. Thermochemistry2h 37m
9. Quantum Mechanics2h 58m
10. Periodic Properties of the Elements3h 9m
11. Bonding & Molecular Structure3h 29m
12. Molecular Shapes & Valence Bond Theory1h 57m
13. Liquids, Solids & Intermolecular Forces2h 23m
14. Solutions3h 1m
15. Chemical Kinetics2h 53m
16. Chemical Equilibrium2h 29m
17. Acid and Base Equilibrium5h 1m
18. Aqueous Equilibrium4h 47m
19. Chemical Thermodynamics1h 50m
20. Electrochemistry2h 42m
21. Nuclear Chemistry2h 36m
22. Organic Chemistry5h 7m
23. Chemistry of the Nonmetals2h 39m
24. Transition Metals and Coordination Compounds3h 16m

15. Chemical Kinetics

Average Rate of Reaction

General Chemistry

15. Chemical Kinetics

Average Rate of Reaction

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Multiple Choice

Can the average rate of a reaction be negative?

No, the average rate of a reaction is always zero.

Yes, if the concentration of products decreases over time.

No, the average rate of a reaction is always positive.

Yes, if the concentration of reactants decreases over time.

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Verified step by step guidance

Understand the concept of reaction rate: The rate of a chemical reaction is a measure of how quickly reactants are converted into products. It is typically expressed as the change in concentration of a reactant or product per unit time.

Recognize that reaction rates can be positive or negative: The rate of disappearance of reactants is considered negative because the concentration of reactants decreases over time. Conversely, the rate of appearance of products is positive as their concentration increases.

Consider the average rate of reaction: The average rate of a reaction is calculated over a specific time interval. It can be expressed as \( \text{Rate} = \frac{\Delta [ ext{Reactant}]}{\Delta t} \) or \( \text{Rate} = \frac{\Delta [ ext{Product}]}{\Delta t} \), where \( \Delta [ ext{Reactant}] \) and \( \Delta [ ext{Product}] \) are the changes in concentration over time \( \Delta t \).

Analyze the given options: The average rate of a reaction is negative when considering the decrease in concentration of reactants over time. This is because \( \Delta [ ext{Reactant}] \) is negative, leading to a negative rate value.

Conclude with the correct understanding: The correct answer is that the average rate of a reaction can be negative if the concentration of reactants decreases over time, reflecting the consumption of reactants during the reaction.