Chemical Kinetics: do not understand anything

[burr.valentin]

Homework Statement

Our chemistry teacher just learned about chemical kinetics. I've been working with the calculus teacher to find out how to determine instantaneous rates exactly. We don't have any equation. Could someone explain this please?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

 

[zhermes]

You can't find instantaneous rates exactly. Chemical reactions take place between $$\approx 10^{22}$$ particles, the only meaningful quantities are averages.

Even if you're looking at a single set of molecules in a reaction, the exact rates depend on detailed quantum mechanical calculations---I assume this is outside the scope of what you're looking for.

Can you be more precise in what you want to learn / achieve? Or what exactly you're having trouble understanding?

 

[victorg]

"Our chemistry teacher just learned about chemical kinetics"
this statement bothers me on many levels. Are they trying to teach it now? As stated above, I am not sure of your question.

 

[2rashmi1993]

instantaneous rate of a reaction can't b found exactly......as far as i know
reactions deal with the changes in quantities which rarely have any independent existence.
Also these changes constitute energy absorption/release in many ways...light, heat most probably in heat. combining all these phenomenon n restricting them to a single equation is something that just can't be imagined...but may be oneday we may succeed in doing so!

 

[burr.valentin]

Our chemistry teacher actually has a degree in English Literature. We have no budget. I bought a few textbooks online and taught him the rate laws, etc. I also showed him a graphical approximations for finding tangent lines. I go to a public school. We have no budget.