NKEK25000U Molecular Chemical Kinetics

Volume 2025/2026
Content

The goal of this course is to bridge the gap between the microscopic description of chemical reactions and the macroscopic quantities that can be measured, while investigating the processes that drive chemical transformations. Key topics include molecular collisions, elementary reactions, surface phenomena, catalysis, adsorption isotherms, activated complex theory, and diffusion-controlled reactions. The course covers chemical kinetics in gas-phase, solution, and surface reactions. Specific areas of focus include statistical thermodynamics, transition state theory, reaction dynamics (elementary collision theory), unimolecular reactions, surface chemistry (adsorption, desorption, diffusion), reactions in solution, solvent effects on transition state theory, ion reactions, and electron transfer reactions.

Learning Outcome

After completing the course, the student should be able to:

Knowledge:

  • Understand basic concepts of chemical kinetics.
  • Grasp transition state theory.
  • Comprehend elementary collision theory.
  • Understand unimolecular reaction theory (RRKM theory).
  • Explain surface reactions (adsorption/desorption, dynamics, diffusion).
  • Understand reactions in solution (diffusion-controlled reactions, solvent effects on rate constants, electron transfer reactions).
  • Utilize software to program temperature- or energy-dependent rate constants.

Skills:

  • Identify rate laws based on detailed reaction mechanisms in both homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions.
  • Apply chemical kinetics to calculate rate constants for simple and complex reactions.
  • Calculate bimolecular reaction rate constants using transition state theory.
  • Determine energy- or temperature-dependent rate constants for unimolecular reactions using RRKM theory.

Competency:

  • Apply theoretical knowledge and analytical skills to analyze the kinetics of reactions in the gas phase, solution, or on surfaces.
  • Analyze the reaction mechanisms of complex chemical processes.
  • Evaluate methods for calculating rate constants in chemical reactions.

 

 

See absalon

It is recommended that the student is familiar with the contents of the compulsory courses on the first year of the bachelor's degree program in Chemistry. In addition to qualifications within the fields of Thermodynamics.
Students are expected to take part in a whole range of classroom activities, including lectures, presentations, discussions, and exercises. They are also required to work on homework assignments and reports outside regular classroom meetings.
The students need a personal pc in order to do the reports.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 30
  • Preparation
  • 70
  • Theory exercises
  • 45
  • Project work
  • 60
  • Exam
  • 1
  • Total
  • 206
Written
Oral
Individual
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Feedback by final exam (In addition to the grade)
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
Oral examination, 20 minutes (no preparation)
Type of assessment details
The exam consists of two parts:
- 3 reports given in teaching week 2, 4 and 6. The deadline for the submission of the reports are one week before the oral exam.
- an oral exam without prepration time.

Weight: The reports count 50% and the oral exam counts 50%

It is required that you have submitted all 3 reports. Otherwise you will be given the grade -3 for the course.
It is not necessary to pass each part of the exam.
Aid
All aids allowed

All aids are allowed in the preparation of the 3 reports

Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Several internal examiners
Re-exam

Oral exam (20 minutes). The student can resubmit the reports, but they must be resubmitted the day before the oral exam.

Criteria for exam assesment

Determine rate laws from detailed reaction mechanisms in both homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions.

Use chemical kinetics to compute rate constants for both simple and complex reactions.

Calculate bimolecular reaction rate constants using transition state theory.

Compute energy- or temperature-dependent rate constants for unimolecular reactions using RRKM theory.

Describe the fundamental principles and key approximations in:

  • Transition state theory
  • Elementary collision theory
  • Unimolecular reaction theory (RRKM theory)
  • Surface reactions (adsorption, desorption, dynamics, diffusion)
  • Reactions in solution (diffusion-controlled reactions, solvent effects on rate constants, electron transfer reactions).