define rate constant
the rate constant is the constant of proportionality relating the rate of reaction with the reactants as they appear in the rate expression
define activation energy
the activation energy is the minimum energy which the reactants must possess before a collision will result in a reaction
catalyst
alter the rate of reaction by providing an alternate reaction route with a lower activation energy, without overall chemically changed by the reaction
molecularity
the number of reactant particles taking part in an elementary step (rate determining step)
rate determining step
the slowest step in the reaction