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NCERT Class 12 Chemistry Chapter 4 Notes Chemical Kinetics- Download PDF Notes

NCERT Class 12 Chemistry Chapter 4 Notes Chemical Kinetics- Download PDF Notes

Edited By Shivani Poonia | Updated on Mar 27, 2025 12:41 AM IST

Chemical reactions occur everywhere, all the time. Consider rusting iron or our bodies breaking down food, for example. Some processes, such as burning, occur quickly, whilst others, such as converting carbon into diamonds, take a long time. Chemical Kinetics is the branch of Chemistry that investigates how quickly certain reactions occur. It investigates what influences the rate of reactions and how compounds transform into new products. Understanding the rate of reaction is critical. It has the potential to improve industrial processes, reduce pollution, and potentially contribute to the development of life-saving drugs.

This Story also Contains
  1. NCERT Class 12 Chapter 3 Class Notes: Chemical Kinetics
  2. Rate of a Chemical Reaction
  3. Factors Influencing Rate of a Reaction
  4. Order of a reaction
  5. Units of rate constant
  6. Molecularity of a reaction:
  7. Integrated rate Equations
  8. First-order reaction
  9. The half-life of a reaction:
  10. Pseudo-first-order reactions:
  11. Temperature Dependence of the Rate of a Reaction
  12. Collision Theory of Chemical Reactions
  13. Chapter-Wise NCERT Class 12 Notes Chemistry
  14. Significance of NCERT Class 12 Chemistry Chapter 3 Notes
  15. NCERT Books and Syllabus

Food preservation is something that we see every day. Fresh fruits and vegetables spoil due to interactions between microbes and oxygen in the air. Storing them in the refrigerator slows down these processes, allowing them to last longer. In medicine, how rapidly a drug dissolves in the body influences its effectiveness. Chemical kinetics notes class 12 also cover the basic equations in Chapter 3. The CBSE Class 12 Chemistry chapter 3 notes do not cover the necessary derivations. These chemical kinetics Class 12 notes also include some solved examples related to mentioned topics. Download the CBSE Notes for chemistry class 12 chapter 3 notes PDF to use offline anywhere.

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NCERT Class 12 Chapter 3 Class Notes: Chemical Kinetics

Definition of chemical kinetics : The branch of Chemistry concerned with the study of the rates of chemical reactions, the mechanism by which the reactions proceed, and the factors affecting the rates of the reactions is called Chemical Kinetics.

Rate of a Chemical Reaction

The rate of a reaction can be defined as the change (decrease or increase) in the concentration of a reactant or product in unit time. The rate of a reaction can be given as:

  • Average rate

The average rate of reaction can be defined as the change in the concentration of a reactant or product in a definite time interval (Δt). It is denoted by the symbol <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><msub><mi>r</mi><mrow><mi>a</mi><mi>v</mi></mrow></msub></math>.

Consider a hypothetical reaction:

Reactant (M) Product ( N )

The rate of disappearance of reactant-

rav= Decrease in concentration of M Time taken rav=[M]Δt

A minus sign indicates a decrease in concentration.

The rate of appearance of the product-

rav= Increase in concentration of NΔtrav=+[N]Δt

  • Instantaneous rate

The instantaneous rate of reaction can be defined as the change in the concentration of a reactant or product at a particular instant of time. It is denoted by the symbol rinst ..

For an infinitesimally small instant of time Δt0,

Therefore,

rinst=d[M]dt=d[P]dt

  • The overall rate of reaction

For an overall rate of reaction, the rate of disappearance of any of the reactants (or the rate of appearance of products) is divided by their corresponding stoichiometric coefficients.

Such that for a reaction,

aA+bBcC+dD

The overall rate is given as:

1ad[A]dt=1bd[B]dt=1c+d[C]dt=1d+d[D]dt

Or

[A]aΔt=[B]bΔt=+[C]cΔt=+[D]dΔt

Factors Influencing Rate of a Reaction

Major factors that influence the rate of reaction are:

  • Concentration of reactants

  • Temperature

  • Catalyst

  • Rate Law

Concentration of reactants

When the rate of reaction is represented in terms of the concentration of the reactants is known as rate law. It is also known as the rate equation or rate expression.

Consider the following reaction:

aA+bBcC+dD

The rate law for this reaction is:

Rate [A]x[B]y

Where x and y represent order w.r.t to A and B and may or may not be equal to a and b.

The differential form of the rate law is:

d[R]dt=k[A]x[B]y

  • Order of a reaction

The order of the chemical reaction is the summation of powers raised to the concentration of the reactants in the rate law.

For a reaction,

aA+bBcC+dD

The rate law is:

Rate [A]x[B]y

Therefore, the order of the reaction is x+y.

The order of a reaction can be 0,1,2,3 and fraction.

Order can never be a negative number.

  • Units of rate constant

REACTION

ORDER

UNITS

Zero-order reaction

0

mol 1 time 1

First-order reaction

1

time1

Second-order reaction

2

l mol1 time 1

Third-order reaction

3

l2 mol2 time 1

Molecularity of a reaction:

The sum total of species reacting or (molecules, atoms, ions) taking part in a chemical reaction is called the molecularity of a reaction.

The reaction can be unimolecular when one reacting species yields product(s).

The reaction can be bimolecular when two reacting species are involved.

The reaction can be trimolecular when three reacting species are involved.

Integrated rate Equations

  • Zero-order reactions

Consider the reaction,

A → P

The rate law of this reaction is given by:

Rate = k[A]0

On integrating the above equation we get,

[A]t=[A]0kt

The graph of the above equation can be plotted as:

1644828448034

  • First-order reaction

Consider the reaction,

A → P

The rate law of this reaction is given by:

Rate = k[A]

On integrating the above equation we get,

ln([A]0[A]t)=kt

The exponential form of a first-order reaction is given as:

[A]t=[A]0ekt

The following equation can be used to plot graphs of first-order reactions:

k=1tln([A]0[A]t)

1644828448531

log[A]0[A]t=kt2.303

1644828448711

The half-life of a reaction:

The time in which the concentration of a reactant is decreased to one-half of its initial concentration is known as the half-life of a reaction. Half-life is represented as t1/2.

  • For zero-order reactions

t1/2=[A]02k

  • For first-order reactions

t1/2=0.693k

Note that for zero-order reaction t1/2[A]0. For the first-order reaction, t1/2 is independent of [A]0.

Pseudo-first-order reactions:

The reactions in which the actual order is different from the expected rate order predicted using rate law are called pseudo-first-order reactions.

CH3COOC2H5+H2OH+CH3COOH+C2H5OH

The rate law of the reaction:

Rate =k[CH3COOC2H5][H2O]

Expected order = 2

The concentration of water does not get altered much during the reaction as it is in excess and can be considered constant.

Rate =k[CH3COOC2H5]

Actual order = 1

Therefore, the reaction behaves as a first-order reaction, and such reactions are called pseudo-first-order reactions.

Temperature Dependence of the Rate of a Reaction

The fact that the rate of a chemical reaction is dependent on temperature can be explained by the Arrhenius equation.

The mathematical form of the Arrhenius equation is given below:

k=AeEa/RT

where A is the Arrhenius factor / the frequency factor / the pre-exponential factor.

According to Arrhenius, a reaction can take place only when two (or more) molecules collide to form an unstable intermediate. This intermediate exists for a very short time and then breaks up to form product(s).

1644828450009

The activation energy (Ea) is the mandatory energy required to produce the intermediate activated complex (C). The reaction coordinate depicts the energy change profile when reactants change into products.

The minimum energy which the colliding molecules required to collide effectively is called threshold energy.

Threshold energy = Activation energy + Energy of the reactants

1644828450204

The rate of reaction depends on the temperature as it is found that with the rise in temperature by 10°, the rate constant is nearly doubled.

Temperature coeff icient =( Rate constant at T+10)( Rate constant at T)

At a particular temperature, the fractions of molecules are plotted against corresponding kinetic energies, a graph given below is obtained.

The peak of the curve represents the kinetic energy possessed by the maximum fraction of molecules and is called the most probable kinetic energy.

1644828450827

Here, the yellow area shows the fraction of additional molecules which react at t+10 while the grey area shows the fraction of molecules reacting at t.

Taking ln on both sides of the following equation:

k=AeEa/RTln(k)=EaRT+ln(A)

Arrhenius equation for two different temperatures can be modified as:

logk2k1=EaRT[T2T1]T1T2

Effect of Catalyst:

  • A catalyst is a substance that alters or changes the rate of a reaction without undergoing any permanent chemical change.

  • According to intermediate complex theory, a catalyst forms temporary bonds with the reactants, forming an intermediate complex. This is how a catalyst participates in a chemical reaction.

  • The catalyst reduces the energy difference known as activation energy between products and reactants which in turn lowers the potential energy barrier.

  • A catalyst catalyses to the same extent the forward as well as the backward reactions so that the equilibrium state remains same but equilibrium is reached faster.

1644828451210

Collision Theory of Chemical Reactions

  • According to the collision theory of chemical reactions, the reactant molecules are supposed as hard spheres, and the reaction takes place when molecules collide with each other.

A+B Products

  • The collision frequency (Z) can be defined as the number of collisions per second per unit volume of the reaction mixture.
  • Activation energy also affects the rate of chemical reactions.
  • Only effective collisions lead to the formation of products.
  • The proper orientation of reactant molecules in space leads to bond formation whereas due to improper orientation no products are formed.
  • The factor for proper orientation during effective collisions is called the probability or steric factor (P).

k=PZABeEa/RT

Chapter-Wise NCERT Class 12 Notes Chemistry

Significance of NCERT Class 12 Chemistry Chapter 3 Notes

Chemical kinetics Class 12 notes will be helpful to revise the chapter and get an idea about the main topics covered in the chapter. Also, this NCERT Class 12 Chemistry chapter 3 notes are useful to cover the main topics of Class 12 CBSE Chemistry Syllabus and also for competitive exams like VITEEE, BITSAT, JEE Main, NEET, etc. Class 12 Chemistry chapter 3 notes PDF download can be used to prepare in offline mode.

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Subject Wise NCERT Solutions


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. 1. How many derivations are covered in chemical kinetics Class 12 notes?

Ans- This NCERT Class 12 Chemistry chapter 4 notes is brief short notes of the main topics. None of the derivations are covered in the NCERT notes for Class 12 Chemistry chapter 4. The equations covered in the chapter and can be used for revising the chemical kinetics.

2. 2. In ncert Class 12 Chemistry chapter 3, what are the main derivations?

Ans- The main derivations covered in the NCERT book (Link) are integrated zero-order reaction, integrated first-order reaction, the half-life of a reaction, Arrhenius equation, etc.

3. 3. How important is the chapter for the CBSE board exam ?

Ans- Students can expect 4 to 6 mark questions (including numerical questions) from the chapter chemical kinetics.

4. 4. Write the unit of a first-order reaction rate constant.

Ans- Students can expect 4 to 6 mark questions (including numerical questions) from the chapter chemical kinetics.

5. 5. State the first order reaction equation in exponential form.

Ans- Students can expect 4 to 6 mark questions (including numerical questions) from the chapter chemical kinetics.

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A block of mass 0.50 kg is moving with a speed of 2.00 ms-1 on a smooth surface. It strikes another mass of 1.00 kg and then they move together as a single body. The energy loss during the collision is

Option 1)

0.34\; J

Option 2)

0.16\; J

Option 3)

1.00\; J

Option 4)

0.67\; J

A person trying to lose weight by burning fat lifts a mass of 10 kg upto a height of 1 m 1000 times.  Assume that the potential energy lost each time he lowers the mass is dissipated.  How much fat will he use up considering the work done only when the weight is lifted up ?  Fat supplies 3.8×107 J of energy per kg which is converted to mechanical energy with a 20% efficiency rate.  Take g = 9.8 ms−2 :

Option 1)

2.45×10−3 kg

Option 2)

 6.45×10−3 kg

Option 3)

 9.89×10−3 kg

Option 4)

12.89×10−3 kg

 

An athlete in the olympic games covers a distance of 100 m in 10 s. His kinetic energy can be estimated to be in the range

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2,000 \; J - 5,000\; J

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200 \, \, J - 500 \, \, J

Option 3)

2\times 10^{5}J-3\times 10^{5}J

Option 4)

20,000 \, \, J - 50,000 \, \, J

A particle is projected at 600   to the horizontal with a kinetic energy K. The kinetic energy at the highest point

Option 1)

K/2\,

Option 2)

\; K\;

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zero\;

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K/4

In the reaction,

2Al_{(s)}+6HCL_{(aq)}\rightarrow 2Al^{3+}\, _{(aq)}+6Cl^{-}\, _{(aq)}+3H_{2(g)}

Option 1)

11.2\, L\, H_{2(g)}  at STP  is produced for every mole HCL_{(aq)}  consumed

Option 2)

6L\, HCl_{(aq)}  is consumed for ever 3L\, H_{2(g)}      produced

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33.6 L\, H_{2(g)} is produced regardless of temperature and pressure for every mole Al that reacts

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67.2\, L\, H_{2(g)} at STP is produced for every mole Al that reacts .

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Option 1)

0.02

Option 2)

3.125 × 10-2

Option 3)

1.25 × 10-2

Option 4)

2.5 × 10-2

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Option 1)

decrease twice

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increase two fold

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remain unchanged

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be a function of the molecular mass of the substance.

With increase of temperature, which of these changes?

Option 1)

Molality

Option 2)

Weight fraction of solute

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Fraction of solute present in water

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Mole fraction.

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twice that in 60 g carbon

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6.023 × 1022

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half that in 8 g He

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558.5 × 6.023 × 1023

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less than 3

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more than 3 but less than 6

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more than 6 but less than 9

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more than 9

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