Rate Laws

Rate laws describe how the speed of a chemical reaction depends on the concentration of the reactants. They are mathematical expressions that indicate how the rate changes when the amount of each substance involved in the reaction is varied. For example, if increasing the concentration of a reactant speeds up the reaction, the rate law will reflect that relationship. Rate laws can help scientists understand reaction mechanisms and predict how changes in conditions affect the reaction's behavior, which is essential in areas like pharmaceuticals, environmental science, and industrial processes.