Advanced Chemical Kinetics: A 10-Lecture Modular Series
A companionable guide to complex mechanisms, radical chains, and molecular choreography across disciplines
Why this series exists
Chemical kinetics isn’t just about rate laws; it’s about how molecules move, collide, transform, and cascade. This series explores the deeper layers of reaction dynamics, from enzyme catalysis to nuclear fission, from CRISPR to chain explosions. It’s designed to honour both historical foundations and contemporary applications, with modular clarity and emotional resonance.
What you’ll learn
Across ten lectures, we’ll explore:
- Historical Foundations and Chain Reaction Basics
From kinetic legacy to the anatomy of radical-driven reactions - Diradicals, Carbenes, and Reactive Intermediates
Spin states, ESR visibility, and how unstable species shape mechanisms - Chain Reaction Architecture: Initiation to Termination
Including branching, retardation, inhibition, and chain length analysis - Explosions and the Hydrogen–Oxygen Mechanism
Thermal vs. chain-branching explosions, pressure dependence, and reaction limits - Enzyme Kinetics and Gas Adsorption Models
Michaelis–Menten and Lindemann–Hinshelwood mechanisms in parallel - Competitive, Consecutive, and Pre-equilibrium Mechanisms
How complex rate laws emerge from multi-step reaction pathways - Steady State Approximation and Mechanism-to-Rate Law Recipes
How to simplify intermediate behaviour and derive overall kinetics - Domino Reactions and Tandem Organic Synthesis
Cascade mechanisms, stereochemical control, and synthetic elegance - PCR and CRISPR as Kinetic Systems
Amplification cycles, gene editing steps, and molecular choreography - Nuclear Kinetics and Element Synthesis
Fission, fusion, and the creation of superheavy elements at the periodic table’s frontier
Who this is for
This series is for:
- Chemistry students exploring advanced kinetics
- Researchers in physical, organic, or biological chemistry
- Educators curating modular resources for mechanism-rich topics
- Anyone curious about how reactions unfold across scales from enzymes to stars
It’s also a thematic extension of your previous kinetics and spectroelectrochemistry arcs, designed to complement historical context with contemporary relevance.
Start Learning
Begin with Lecture 1: Historical Foundations and Chain Reaction Basics (04/09/2026)
Access the Full Lecture Here
Accessibility Notes
- All lecture materials are delivered as modular posts, with supporting links for clarity, rhythm-aware pacing, and neurodivergent-friendly engagement.
- All posts are freely available. Subscribe to receive new content directly in your inbox.
- Each set includes one consolidated PDF download, formatted for Word, email, and print compatibility via a £1 per lecture purchase at Payhip, with the final price depending on the number of lectures in the set.
- Feedback and remixing are always welcome. This archive is a communal act of care, repair, and scholarly generosity.
Support the Archive
This archive is freely shared as a communal act of care.
If you’d like to support its continuation, consider purchasing a companion PDF set for £1 per lecture via Payhip, with the final price depending on the number of lectures in the set, available only once the full series is complete.