The Quantum Mechanics of Chemical Kinetics of Homogeneous Gas Phase Reactions I. General Considerations

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Abstract
From the zeroth order Born‐Oppenheimer approximation to the wave functions of a molecular system and the first order time‐dependent perturbation theory of quantum mechanics it has been possible to deduce: (1) the adiabatic hypothesis; (2) the dependence of the rate of homogeneous gas phase chemical reactions upon the composition of reaction mixtures; (3) the condition for zero net rate of reaction, which corresponds precisely to the statistical mechanical condition for equilibrium; (4) the dependence of the chemical reaction rate upon the temperature. Heuristic considerations transcribe the quantum mechanical result into terms of the collision theory and the activated complex theory of chemical reactions.

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