Name: _______________

Date: ________________

SCH4U Factors that Affect Reaction Rates

1. Concentration
2. Surface Area
3. Catalyst
4. Temperature
5. Nature of Reactant

Rate of Reaction = frequency of collisions x fraction of effective collisions.

1. Nature of Reactant

No. of Molecules

Ea(Mg Ea(Cu Energy

) )

Maxwell-Boltzmann Distribution Curve

By changing the reactants, the activation energy is lowered

or raised. Lower activation energy results in a higher
number of molecules that have the right energy for the
reaction. This increases the fraction of effective collisions.
 Name: _______________
Date: ________________

Ea(Cu
)

Copper (least reactive)

Ea(Mg
)

magnesium (more
reactive)

By lowering the activation energy, the reaction will go quickly, because

less energy is required to proceed in this reaction.

Example:

Magnesium will react faster with HCl than copper.

 Name: _______________
Date: ________________

2. Concentration

Ea

Increasing concentration increases the number of molecules that

collide. This increases the distribution curve vertically, thereby
increasing the area under the curve. This will increase the frequency
of collisions, which increases the reaction rate.
 Name: _______________
Date: ________________

3. Surface Area

Ea

Increasing surface area increases the number of molecules that collide.

This increases the distribution curve vertically, thereby increasing the
area under the curve. This will increase the frequency of collisions,
which increases the reaction rate.

4. Temperature

No. of Molecules

Ea

By increasing temperature the average kinetic energy is

increased. This means the area under the curve beyond the
activation energy increases. More molecules have the
energy to react. This change increases the fraction of
 Name: _______________
Date: ________________

effective collisions (area under the curve) and the frequency

of collisions (more energy = more collisions).

5. Catalyst

No. of
Molecules

Ea(cat) Ea(uncat) Energy

By adding a catalyst, the activation energy is lowered.

Lower activation energy results in a higher number of
molecules that have the right energy for the reaction. This
increases the fraction of effective collisions.
 Name: _______________
Date: ________________

By lowering the activation energy, the reaction will go quickly, because

less energy is required to proceed in this reaction.

HW Q 1-8 pg. 296