On The Theory of Time dilation in Chemical Kinetics

TL;DR

This paper unifies chemical kinetics with special relativity, showing how reaction rates and half-lives are affected by observer motion at relativistic speeds, leading to a relativistic theory of chemical kinetics.

Contribution

It introduces a Lorentz-invariant formulation of chemical reaction rates, integrating relativity into existing kinetic theories and explaining time dilation effects in chemical processes.

Findings

Reaction rates depend on observer velocity, exhibiting relativistic time dilation.

Lorentz transformation applies to rate constants, collision frequency, and transition state theories.

Numerical examples demonstrate the theory's applicability to enzymatic and radioactive decay processes.

Abstract

The rates of chemical reactions are not absolute but their magnitude depends upon the relative speeds of the moving observers. This has been proved by unifying theories of chemical kinetics, which are transition state theory, collision theory, RRKM and Marcus theory, with the special theory of relativity. Boltzmann constant and energy spacing between permitted quantum levels of molecules are quantum mechanically proved to be Lorentz variant. The relativistic statistical thermodynamics has been developed to explain quasiequilibrium existing between reactants and activated complex. The newly formulated Lorentz transformation of the rate constant from Arrhenius Equation, of the collision frequency and of the Eyring and Marcus equations renders the rate law also Lorentz variant. For a moving observer moving at fractions of the speed of light along the reaction coordinate the transition state possess less kinetic energy to sweep translation over it. This results in the slower transformation of reactants into products and in a stretched time frame for the chemical reaction. Lorentz transformation of the half-life equation explains time dilation of the half life period of chemical reactions and proves special theory of relativity and presents theory of relativistic chemical kinetics in accord with each other. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the present theory, the enzymatic reaction of methylamine dehydrogenase and radioactive disintegration of Astatine are considered as numerical examples.