Collision Theory

 chemical reactions only take place when there are

collisions between reactants
o depends on: 1) number of collisions per unit time
2) fraction of collisions that are successful

Rate Law:
where xA + yB  AB
r [A][B] [ ] = mol/L
r [A]x[B]y

=> r = k [A]x [B]y Rate Law

o k = rate constant (temperature dependent)

o x, y = determined experimentally
o sum of x + y gives over reaction order
ex. H2 + I2  2 HI
rate = k [H2][I2] 1st order … [H2]
1st order … [I2]
 2nd order overall

 for elementary reactions (smaller steps to the overall

reaction), x + y are the same as the stoichiometric
coefficients for each reaction

If the number of particles available to react is increased,

chances of a collisions increase
A => slow => fast
B rxn rxn
o add energy to system, rate will increase
 some reactions proceed very slowly even though there is a
high concentration of each reactant
p373 Fig 6.15 Ek distributions for reaction mixture
at 2 different temperatures

 Potential Energy diagrams for endothermic and

exothermic reactions (p366: Fig 6.10 exo, Fig 6.10 endo)

Ep Ep

Rxn Rxn
H = -ve => exothermic H = +ve => endothermic

 P368 Fig 6.12 As reactants collide, chemical bonds

break and form

 Collision geometry: if molecules are not oriented properly,

then no reaction will occur even
though they possess the necessary
energy

 Activation Energy (Ea) & Rate of Reaction:

The lower the activation energy needed, the faster the
reaction will occur and the greater the rate of reaction

P369-370 (Study sample problem)

P371 #15-20