Study Programmes 2015-2016
CHIM0012-5  
Chemical kinetics
Duration :
20h Th, 15h Pr, 15h Proj.
Number of credits :
Bachelor in engineering3
Master in chemical and materials engineering (120 ECTS)3
Master in chemical and materials engineering (120 ECTS)2
Lecturer :
Nathalie Job
Language(s) of instruction :
French language
Organisation and examination :
Teaching in the second semester
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Course contents :
The course aims at making the link between chemical reactions and their rate equation. It contents the following concepts:
 
  • definition of the reaction rate
  • form of the rate equation
  • elementary steps
  • steady-state hypothesis
  • kinetic treatment of catalytic sequences (open/closed) and chain reactions
  • rate-determining step
  • examples in catalysis and enzymatic catalysis
Learning outcomes of the course :
Acquire the concepts allowing to determine the equation of the reaction rate from a given reaction mechanism, and equation, and vice-versa.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills :
Chemistry (CHIM9272-2 and CHIM9273-1) 
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
Problem-solving to illustrate the concepts explained during the theory lectures.
Personal homework : analysis of a recent scientific publication from an international journal (in English) about the mechanism of a given reaction and the determination of its reaction rate equation.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
2 hours/week lectures (theory), spring session (face-to-face). 7 sessions.
2hours/week practice, parallel to theoretical lectures (face-to-face). 7 sessions.
Recommended or required readings :
Recommended reference book : M. Boudart - Kinetics of chemical processes.
Copies of presentation materials (slides) and practical session resolutions are available on the eCampus portal.
Assessment methods and criteria :
  • One personal homework (groups of 2 students): report is evaluated. Regarding the report, a deadline is decided in agreement with the students' schedule. Any postponement of the report handing leads to penalties (-2 points on the final mark per additional day). If no report is provided, the student will not be admitted to the final examination.
 
  • Oral examination (June) : theory.
  • Written examination (June) : problem solving (without documents).    
 
  • Weighting coefficients: oral examination (theory): 20%; written examination (problem solving): 40%; personal homework (report and answers to questions during oral examination): 40%.
  • No partial exemption is granted for theory and problem solving. The mark relative to the personal homework may be kept from one examination period to another (and from one academic year to another) if BOTH the written report mark AND the oral examination relative to the homework are equal to or higher than 12/20. 
Work placement(s) :
Organizational remarks :
Tutorial and practice : Nathalie Job, Quentin Blanjean (student - 1st Master Ing civ Chim & Sc Mat)
 
Contacts :
Nathalie JOB, Department of Chemical Engineering, Institut de Chimie B6a
Phone : 04 366 3537 ; Email : nathalie.job@ulg.ac.be