Collision theory
Based on idea that for a chemical reaction to occur between two or more reactant particles, they must collide
Requirements for a chemical reaction
- reactant particles must collide w/ sufficient energy to overcome energy barrier for reaction (activation energy)
Unsuccessful collision
When the requirements for a successful collision aren’t met, reactant particles may simply bounce apart without reacting
- also happens when colliding particles don’t have energy equal to or greater than activation energy of reaction
For a chemical reaction to take place, the following conditions must be met
Activation energy of a reaction
Minimum amount of kinetic energy that colliding particles must have for a chemical reaction to occur
Transition state
Highest energy state on a reaction coordinate
- indicates a point at which new bonds are being formed at the same time as old bonds are being broken
Chemical reactions and activation energy
- slower reactions have higher activation energies
Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution
Theory that, in an ideal gas, the kinetic energy of the molecules is spread over a range of values
Maxwell-Boltzmann curve
The total area beneath the curve is equal to total no. of particles in the sample
Maxwell-Boltzmann curve and changes in temperature
Temperature of a gas sample is increased:
NB/ at higher temp., a greater proportion of particles will have energy equal to or greater than Ea
Temperature
Measure of average kinetic energy of particles in a substance
Why does increasing temp. increase rate of reaction?
Effect of a catalyst
Provides a reaction pathway that requires a lower Ea
- hence, a greater proportion of reactant particles will have energy equal to, or greater than, Ea
Kelvin scale
An absolute temperature scale
Average KE and Kelvin scale
The absolute temperature in K is directly proportional to average kinetic energy of particles in a sample
Absolute 0
Lowest possible temperature on Kelvin scale- it is the origin of x-axis of distribution
At this temp. :
Conversion between degrees Celsius and Kelvin
Kelvin = Degrees Celsius -273.15
Catalysts
Used to increase the rate of a chemical reaction
Catalysed reaction pathway
Has a lower Ea than uncatalysed reaction pathway
- original Ea for reaction remains unchanged
Catalysts and activation energy
Catalysts don’t lower Ea of a reaction
- they proved an alternate reaction pathway that has a lower Ea
How do catalysts increase rate of a chemical reaction?
Enzymes
Biological catalysts
Substrate
Molecule that fits into active site of an enzyme and reacts
Enzymes as catalysts
Provide an alternative reaction pathway with a lower Ea than the uncatalysed reaction