Methods based on fast kinetics

Time is a distinct feature of kinetic methods as compared with equilibrium methods. For a kinetic method to be successfully applied it is in fact essential to strictly control variables such as the delay time or the measurement time. 

The method used to determine the rate of a given reaction obviously depends on its half-life. As a rule, reactions with half-lives shorter than 10 s are classed as fast. Such reactions involve specific instrumental requirements as regards both their study as such (structural elucidation, determination of rate constants) and their use for analytical purposes. 

The chief problem with methods based on fast kinetics lies in achieving 

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The detection technique most commonly used with methods based on fast kinetics is photometry (either in its conventional form or with multi-detection systems such as image detectors) and, to a much lesser extent, fluorimetric and electroanalytical methods. 

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