Examine the principles of chemical kinetics and their importance in chemical engineering. Define reaction rate, rate laws, and reaction mechanisms, exploring their role in describing the kinetics of chemical reactions. Discuss factors influencing reaction rates, such as temperature, concentration, and catalysts, and their impact on reaction kinetics. Illustrate how chemical kinetics governs the design and optimization of chemical processes in industries such as pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, and environmental engineering. Provide examples of kinetic modeling and reactor design to demonstrate the practical application of chemical kinetics in engineering practice.