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Factors Affecting Reaction Rates According to Collision Theory

A chemical reaction occurs in everything we see around us. Chemical reaction is the

process of the interactions of molecules within chemicals. It results to the formation of a new

substance or material with diverse compositions. Chemical reactions have to do with energy

transfers and modification of atomic structures. This phenomenon is also known as chemical

change, which explains alterations happening in a particular substance. A chemical reaction

involves two components which are the reactants and the products. Reactants are the chemicals

that will react due to specific conditions, and products are the results of the corresponding

reactions. Chemical reaction occurs when there is a vanishing of mass and forms something new.

Collision theory proposes that reaction takes place when molecules collide with each

other. According to this theory, the frequency and energy of collisions of molecules significantly

are the main factor that affects the rate of reaction (Flowers et al, 2019). Collision theory

suggests that if there are a greater number of collisions that occur in a system; there will be

greater chance to have faster reactions. Moreover, practical collision will happen if there is a

correct spacing of the reactant molecules that will enable the breaking and formation of atomic

bonds.
 Chemical reactions can be fast or slow, depending on the factors of reaction rate.

According to Timberlake (2015), the speed or rate of the chemical reaction is identified based on

how much reactant is used or how much product is formed a while. It tells how fast or slow the

consumption of reactants is, to create products. The chemical reaction speed depends on the level

of activation energy. There is an inverse relationship between the activation energy and reaction

rate. In this concept, the higher the activation energy, the slower the reaction rate is. In contrary,

the lower the activation energy, the faster the reaction rate is. The study of this reaction rate is

called chemical kinetics and has the central concept called collision theory. Reaction rates differ

according to some specific factors. These factors that affect reaction rate are the changes of

temperature, reactants concentration, the surface of the reactants, and the number of catalysts

added.

According to Timberlake (2015), there is a direct relationship between temperature and

reaction rate. Higher temperature results in to rise in the kinetic energy of the reactants, which

provides more collisions of molecules in the system. Most of the time, the reaction rate is always

faster in higher temperatures. Approximately, reaction rate becomes double in every 10 °C

change in temperature. There are several practical applications of this concepts that we

experience in our daily lives. Whenever we heat our food, we increase the heat or the

temperature. The molecules in the food we are heating tend to move faster at a higher rate. On

the other hand, lowering the temperature makes the reaction rate or chemical change slower.

The reason why we put our food inside the refrigerator in order to avoid spoilage is because of

the low temperature. The lower the temperature is, the slower the chemical reaction occurs in the

food.
 Another factor is the concentration of reactants which means the amount of the reactants

in a particular system. There is also a direct relationship between the concentration of reactants

and reaction rate. When adding more reactants, the speed of reaction also increases. It causes a

greater number of collisions in the system and results in faster chemical reaction (Timberlake,

2015). One practical example of this concept is when a patient finds it hard to breathe. Giving a

breathing mixture that contains greater amount of oxygen than the atmosphere will help to

increase oxygen count in the lungs resulting in a higher amount of oxygen that combines with

hemoglobin. This condition will result to more tremendous oxygen count in the blood that helps

to breathe easier (Timberlake, 2015).

Reactant surface is also a factor that affects the speed of chemical reactions. The surface

reactant refers to the physical state of the reactants, which are be solid, liquid, or gas. The

reactants that have the same phase or form result in greater contact with each other, resulting in a

higher rate of reaction. On the other hand, the response becomes limited if the reactants are in a

different phase. A heterogeneous mixture limits the reaction rate because of the surface area is in

contact. In this condition, a chemical reaction only occurs in the area of reference with the

reactants. In this case, mechanical methods like stirring and shaking are ways to complete the

reaction. One example is a mixture of metal and gas reactants. The molecules on the surface of

the metal reactant are the only area that will have contact with the gas reactant. This limited

contact causes a lesser number of collisions of molecules and results in a slower reaction rate.

Mechanical methods like flattening and cutting of the solid reactant will help to increase the

surface of contact to have a faster chemical reaction (ATA, 2016).

Lowering the energy activation speeds up the reaction rate. The way to reduce the energy

activation is by adding a catalyst. Catalyst is a kind of substance that facilitates or enables

chemical reactions without changing the chemical composition. According to Timberlake (2015),

the catalyst concept can be compared to the idea of climbing a hill. To reach the other side of the

hill, we can find a tunnel that passes through the hill instead of climbing. In this case, we don’t

need so much energy to get on the other side. Likewise, a real catalyst does the same job. It

provides an alternative way for the reactants to obtain a product with lower energy activation.

This condition will result in more collisions to obtain a product in a chemical reaction. One

practical example of this concept is the production of margarine. A prolonged reaction between

hydrogen and vegetable oil. But with the use of catalysts, the reaction rate will increase.

It is significant to understand the various concepts of chemical reactions. Having the

awareness of these factors that affect the reaction rate is beneficial in multiple areas of life and

significant in the advancement of our living.

Sources Cited:

Naish, Jeannette. “Biochemistry and Cell Biology.” Science Direct,

www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/chemical-

reaction. Accessed 17 Jan. 2022.

“Description of Chemical Reactions.” Chemistry LibreTexts, 6 June 2019,

chem.libretexts.org/Courses/Purdue/Purdue_Chem_26100%3A_Organic_Chemistry_I_(

Wenthold)/Chapter_05%3A_The_Study_of_Chemical_Reactions/

5.1_Description_of_Chemical_Reactions/Description_of_Chemical_Reactions.

Flowers, Paul, et al. “The Speed of Reactions.” Chemistry LibreTexts, 29 Aug. 2019,

chem.libretexts.org/Courses/Bellarmine_University/BU

%3A_Chem_104_(Christianson)/Phase_2%3A_Understanding_Chemical_Reactions/

4%3A_Kinetics%3A_How_Fast_Reactions_Go/4.1%3A_The_Speed_of_Reactions.

ATA. “FACTORS AFFECTING REACTION RATE IN CHEMICAL KINETICS.” ATA

Scientific Instruments, 12 Aug. 2019, atascientific.com.au/detecting-rapid-kinetics.

“Factors That Affect the Rate of Reactions.” OER Services, courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-

introductory-chemistry/chapter/factors-that-affect-the-rate-of-reactions. Accessed 18 Jan.

2022.

Timberlake, Karen. Chemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry.

Twelfth Edition, United States of America, Pearson Education Inc., 2015.