If students see the connection between understanding the principles governing the rates of chemical reactions and understanding how a multitude of applications work, they will have achieved the goal of this unit. Placing undue emphasis on the mathematical relationships involved in rate laws is unnecessary. Calculating rate laws, determining the order of reactions, or developing equilibrium expressions from rate laws may be of interest to some, but such topics place an unnecessary amount of pressure on students who lack mathematical ability. A descriptive treatment of the unit is preferable. The use of models and audiovisual aids is practically indispensable in this unit.
Many good resources are available.
Teachers should attempt to use a variety of them in this unit. There are several classic rate investigations that may be done. The use of laboratory activities will enhance this unit by making it less theoretical and abstract. Suggest some ways in which the rate of a chemical reaction could be measured. Identify some factors which affect the rate of chemical reactions.