Description
This course explores the principles and mechanisms governing the rates of chemical and biochemical reactions. Students will examine reaction kinetics, focusing on both theoretical and experimental approaches to understanding how chemical reactions proceed over time. Topics include kinetic gas theory, complex rate laws, reaction mechanisms, transition state theory, diffusion control, catalysis, enzyme kinetics, binding kinetics, adsorption phenomena and the influence of temperature, pressure, and concentration on reaction rates. Through problem-solving, case studies, and simulations -- with a special focus on enzyme-catalyzed reactions and the role of kinetics in metabolic pathways -- students will learn how to model reaction dynamics and analyze kinetic data using mathematical techniques and predict and manipulate reaction behavior in complex chemical and biological systems. This course is intended for students majoring in chemistry, molecular biology, chemical engineering, or related