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General Chemistry 2
Third Quarter
Module No. 3 of 3
RATE OF REACTION & COLLISION THEORY
Writer: Roland R. Agra
HONOR CODE
AS A MEMBER OF THE NAMUAC ACADEMY EAGLES FAMILY, I WILL CONDUCT
MYSELF WITH INTEGRITY & SINCERITY AT ALL TIMES, DEMONSTRATE COMPASSION &
JUSTICE IN ALL MY ACTIONS, UPHOLD THE VALUE OF EXCELLENCE, AND ABIDE BY THE
EXPECTATIONS SET FORTH IN THE STUDENT HANDBOOK.
I MAKE THIS PLEDGE IN THE SPIRIT OF HONOR & TRUST.
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
Design a simple investigation to determine the effect on boiling point or freezing point when a
solid is dissolved in water
TRANSFER GOAL
EXPECTATION
S
After going through this module, you are expected to:
1. Describe how various factors influence the rate of a reaction (STEM_GC11CK- IIIi-j-130)
2. Differentiate zero, first, and second order reactions (STEM_GC11CK-IIIi-j-132)
3. Explain reactions qualitatively in terms of molecular collisions (STEM_GC11CK-IIIi-j-136)
4. Explain activation energy and how a catalyst affects the reaction rate (STEM_GC11CK-IIIi-j-
137)
PRE-TEST
MULTIPLE CHOICE. Read and understand each item and choose the letter of the correct answer.
Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.
3. For the reaction 2A + B + 2C D + 2E, the rate law is: rate =k[A] 2[B]1[C]1. Which of the
following statements is false?
a. the reaction is second order in [A]
b. the reaction is second order in [C]
c. the reaction is first order in [B]
d. the reaction is 4th order overall
OVERVIEW
Every action has a reaction. So, everything we do there will always be a reaction.
While rust may take years to develop on a car, logs burning in a fire can be turned to ash in a
matter of hours. That only means different factors can affect the rate of a chemical reaction and able
to predict how to speed up or slow down a process.
Rusting of iron is an example of a slow reaction over the years. The iron reacts with the
oxygen resulting to the corrosion or rusting of iron. The oxygen is a very good oxidizing agent whereas
the iron is the reducing agent. The rusting of iron can be quickly done when salt and acid are present
in the surrounding. The salt accelerates the rusting process by lowering the electrical resistance of
water. The easier the electrons flow from iron to oxygen, the quicker the iron rust. The speed or rate at
which the chemical reactions occur is called Chemical Kinetics.
A collision happens when 2 or more objects collide or come together. Molecules collide in
order to react. The basic component for a reaction to occur is that the reactant particles – atoms or
molecules must collide and interact with each other in same way. This is the main idea of collision
model, which is used to explain many of the observations made about Chemical Kinetics. The
Collision Theory, proposed independently by Max Trautz of Germany in 1916 and William Lewin of
Britain in 1918, explain show chemical reactions occur and why reaction rates are different from each
other.
In Lesson 4, you’ll learn that no reaction can take place between two particles if they are far
apart. They must come in contact so that they may be able to break bonds, exchange atoms, and form
new bonds. What should happen for a reaction to take place? The reactant molecules must collide.
But mere collision is not enough. The reactant particles must possess energy equal to or higher than a
critical value. This critical amount of energy required for a reaction to take place is called activation
energy.
In chemistry, a catalyst is a substance that speeds up the rate of a reaction without itself
being consumed in the reaction. Any reaction that makes use of a catalyst is termed catalysis. Be
careful about this distinction when reading chemistry material; a catalyst (plural "catalysts") is a
physical substance, but catalysis (plural "catalyses") is a process.
Catalysts and their associated catalytic reactions come in two main types: homogeneous
catalysts, and heterogeneous catalysts. Some sources consider biocatalysts (usually called enzymes)
as the third type of catalyst. But in this module, we are going to cite and differentiate the two types of
catalyst: homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts.
LESSON PROPER
a. Chemical Nature of the Reacting Substances. The rate of a reaction depends on the nature of
the participating substances. Reactions that appear similar may have different rates under the
same conditions, depending on the identity of the reactants. For example, when small pieces
of the metals iron and sodium are exposed to air, the sodium reacts completely with air
overnight, whereas the iron is barely affected. The active metals calcium and sodium both
react with water to form hydrogen gas reacts at a moderate rate, whereas sodium reacts so
rapidly that the reaction is and a base. Yet calcium almost explosive.
b. State of Subdivision of the Reactants. Except for substances in the gaseous state or in
solution, reactions occur at the boundary, or interface, between two phases. Hence, the rate
of a reaction between two phases depends to a great extent on the surface contact between
them. A finely divided solid has more surface area available for reaction than does one large
piece of the same substance. Thus, a liquid will react more rapidly with a finely divided solid
than with a large piece of the same solid. For example, large pieces of iron react slowly with
acids; finely divided iron reacts much more rapidly. Large pieces of wood smolder, smaller
pieces burn rapidly, and saw dust burns explosively.
d. Concentrations of the Reactants. The rates of many reactions depend on the concentrations
of the reactants. Rates usually increase when the concentration of one or more of the
reactants increases. For example, calcium carbonate (CaCO 3) deteriorates as a result of its
reaction with the pollutant sulfur dioxide. The rate of this reaction depends on the amount of
sulfur dioxide in the air. An acidic oxide, sulfur dioxide combines with water vapor in the air to
produce sulfurous acid in the following reaction:
SO2(g)+H2O(g)⟶H2SO3(aq)SO2(g)+H2O(g)⟶H2SO3(aq)
CaCO3(s)+H2SO3(aq)⟶CaSO3(aq)+CO2(g)+H2O(l)CaCO3(s)+H2SO3(aq)⟶CaSO3(aq)+CO2(g)+H2O(l)
In a polluted atmosphere where the concentration of sulfur dioxide is high, calcium carbonate
deteriorates more rapidly than in less polluted air. Similarly, phosphorus burns much more
rapidly in an atmosphere of pure oxygen than in air, which is only about 20% oxygen.
e. Presence of a Catalyst. Hydrogen peroxide solutions foam when poured onto an open wound
because substances in the exposed tissues act as catalysts, increasing the rate of hydrogen
peroxide’s decomposition. However, in the absence of these catalysts (for example, in the
bottle in the medicine cabinet) complete decomposition can take months. A catalyst is a
substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction by lowering the activation energy
without itself being consumed by the reaction. Activation energy is the minimum amount of
energy required for a chemical reaction to proceed in the forward direction. A catalyst
increases the reaction rate by providing an alternative pathway or mechanism for the reaction
to follow.
f. Physical State of the Reactants and Surface Area. If reactant molecules exist in different
phases, as in a heterogeneous mixture, the rate of reaction will be limited by the surface area
of the phases that are in contact. For example, if a solid metal reactant and gas reactant are
mixed, only the molecules present on the surface of the metal are able to collide with the gas
molecules. Therefore, increasing the surface area of the metal by pounding it flat or cutting it
into many pieces will increase its reaction rate.
Reaction Rate
Reaction rate in chemistry is the speed at which a chemical reaction proceeds. It is often
expressed in terms of either the concentration (amount per unit volume) of a product that is formed in
a unit or the concentration of a reactant that is consumed in a unit of time. It can also be defined as the
amount of reactants consumed or products formed in a unit of time.
The rate of a chemical reaction tells how fast a given amount of a reactant or product changes
with time. It can be expressed either as the disappearance of a reactant or the appearance of the
product.
A→B (1)
Rate = - ∆ [𝐴] ∆A = change in concentration of A overtime period ∆t
∆𝑡
Rate = ∆ [𝐵] ∆B = change in concentration of B over time period ∆t
∆𝑡
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Types of Rates
1. Initial Rate is the rate measured at the beginning of the reaction, which is dependent on the
initial concentrations of reactants.
Example of the initial rate is the figure 1 below. As the figure indicated, it is found on the left
side in which it is the beginning of the reaction and the initial concentrations of reactants.
2. Instantaneous Rates are the rates measured at any point during the reaction. Example is the
Experimental Data for the Reaction Between Phenolphthalein and Base
Concentration of Phenolphthalein (M) Time (s)
0.0050 0.00
0.0045 10.5
0.0040 22.3
0.0035 35.7
0.0030 51.1
0.0025 69.3
0.0020 91.6
0.0015 120.4
0.0010 160.9
0.00050 230.3
0.0025 299.6
0.00015 350.7
0.00010 391.2
Table 1
Plotting the data above in a graph, results in a curved line. Curved line indicates change in
reaction rate with time. The rate at any instant in time (instantaneous rate) is the slope of the tangent
to the curve. Instantaneous rate is different from average rate, so when we refer to the rate of a
reaction, we will be assuming it’s the instantaneous rate unless otherwise told. The slope of a tangent
at any point on the curve yields the instantaneous rate at that point.
∆𝑦
Slope of tangent =
∆𝑥
Where:
∆y is the concentration of the product (y-axis in the cartesian plane)
∆x is the time (x-axis in the cartesian plane).
∆ y, p
∆ x, t
Figure 2
Rate =
3. Average Rate is an overall rate measured over a period of time interval Example: is
Concentrations of Reactant and Products as a Function of Time for the Reaction
Table 2
Using the data above to plot will result like the figure below.
Concentrations (mol/L)
Time (s)
Figure 3
Then, if we will calculate the average rates of this reaction during the first 150 seconds and
during the second 150 seconds. The initial concentration of NO 2 is 0.0100 mol/L and its concentration
after 150 seconds is 0.0055 mol/L.
Then we can conclude that the average rate decreases as reaction progresses because the reactant
concentration has decreased.
Rate Laws
The rate law expresses the reaction rate as a function of reactant concentrations, product
concentrations, and temperature. Rate laws displays how the rate depends on the concentrations of
reactants.
The rate law for a chemical reaction is an equation that relates the reaction rate with the
concentrations or partial pressures of the reactants. For the general reaction aA+bB→C with no
intermediate steps in its reaction mechanism, meaning that it is an elementary reaction, the rate law is
given by:
Rate = k[A]m[B]n
Where:
[A] and [B] express the concentrations of A and B, respectively, in units of moles per liter
The exponents m and n vary for each reaction, and they must be determined experimentally;
they are not related to the stoichiometric coefficients of the chemical equation. k is known as the rate
constant of the reaction.
The value of this coefficient k will vary with conditions that affect reaction rate, such as
temperature, pressure, surface area, etc. A smaller rate constant indicates a slower reaction, while a
larger rate constant indicates a faster reaction.
The rate law or rate equation or rate expression is a mathematical explanation of the variation
of the rate of a chemical reaction at a function of time. The reaction rate is dependent on concentration
of reactants at a fixed temperature. The rate of reaction is directly proportional to the reactant
concentrations, each concentration raised to some power.
The rate law expresses the relationship of the rate of a reaction to the rate constant and the
concentration of the reactants raised to some power.
aA + bB → cC + dD
Rate = k [A]m [B]n
Where:
k = constant
m = order with respect to A
n = order with respect to B
x and y are called the order of each reactant
the rate of constant, k, is a proportionality constant in the relationship between rate and
concentration
Reaction Order
To reiterate, the exponents m and n are not derived from the balanced chemical equation,
and the rate law of a reaction must be determined experimentally. These exponents may be either
integers or fractions, and the sum of these exponents is known as the overall reaction order. A
reaction can also be described in terms of the order of each reactant.
For example, the rate law Rate=k[NO]2[O2] describes a reaction which is second-order in nitric
oxide, first-order in oxygen, and third-order overall. This is because the value of x is 2, and the value
of y is 1, and 2+1=3.
Order of reaction with respect to a reactant is the exponent of its concentration term in the
rate expression. Order must be determined through experiment
Rate = k [A]m [B]n
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Where:
m = order with respect to A
n = order with respect to B
m and n can be 0, 1, 2 or fractions
The total reaction order is the sum of all exponents on all concentration of terms;
Rate = k [A]m [B]n [C]p
Total order = m + n+ p
The reaction rate for a given reaction is an important tool that enables us to calculate the
specific order of reaction. The order of reaction is important in that it enables us to classify specific
chemical reactions easily and efficiently, within the reaction including the rate law, units of constant
rate, half-life, and much more. Reaction order can be calculated from the rate law by adding the
exponent values of the reactants in the rate law.
The exponents m, n, and p are frequently, but not always, integers. They must be
determined experimentally and cannot be obtained by simply looking at the balanced equation.
2. A certain rate law is given as Rate=k[H2][Br2]1/2 . What is the reaction order? m=1, n=1/2
reaction order = m + n=1+1/2=3/2
3. The reaction is first-order in hydrogen, one-half-order in bromine, and 3/2 order overall.
The reaction between nitric oxide and ozone, NO (g)+O3(g)→NO2(g)+O2(g), is first order in both
nitric oxide and ozone. The rate law equation for this reaction is: Rate=k[NO] 1[O3]1. The overall order of
the reaction is 1 + 1 = 2.
1. Zero-Order Reaction
The rate of the zero-order reaction does not vary with increasing nor decreasing
reactants concentrations. This means that the rate of the reaction is equal to the rate
of constant, k, of that reaction.
Rate = k
It is independent of the concentration of the reacting substance or reacting substance
or reaction rate depends on the zero power of the reactant.
Examples of this type of reaction is the enzyme-catalyzed oxidation of CH3CH2OH
(ethanol) to CH3CHO (acetaldehyde)
There are two general conditions that can give rise to zero-order rates.
Only a simple reactant molecule is in a location or state in which they are able to react,
and this fraction is continually replenished from the larger pool.
When two or more reactants are involved, the concentrations of some are much
greater than those of others.
2. First-Order Reaction
It depends on the first power of concentration of a single reactant
When the reaction rate depends on the first power of concentration of a single
reactant
The rate of reaction is directly proportional to the concentration of reacting substance
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3. Second-Order Reaction
It depends on the concentration of two reactant species
Rate = k[A]2 or rate = k[A][B]
Example is NO2 + CO → NO + CO2
A reaction is said to be second-order when the overall order is two. For a
reaction with the general form aA+bB→C, the reaction can be second order
in two possible ways. It can be second-order in either A or B, or first-order in
both A and B. If the reaction were second-order in either reactant, it would
lead to the following rate laws: o Rate=k[A]2 or o Rate=k[B]2
The second scenario, in which the reaction is first-order in both A and B,
would yield the following rate law: Rate=k[A][B]
Units of Rate
The rate of reaction as concentration of reactant or product divided by time. The unit of
concentration is mole liter-1 (mole L -1 or mole/L) and time is generally expressed by seconds. So,
reaction rate has units of mole L-1 s-1. But time may be given in any convenient unit second (s),
minutes (min), hours (hr), day (d) or possible years.
Collision theory explains why different reactions occur at different rates and suggest ways to
change the rate of reaction. It also the basic requirements in order to react molecules must collide with
one another. Collision theory also tells that reacting particles often collide without reacting.
There are three basic requirements to have an effective collision: (1) the reactants must collide with
each other; (2) the molecules must have the sufficient energy to initiate a reaction (activation energy);
and (3) the molecules must have a proper orientation. To have an effective collision is to have a good
result in chemical reaction. Even if two molecules collide with sufficient activation energy, there is no
guarantee that the collision will be successful.
Therefore, if one of the three basic requirements are missing, there is no chemical reaction. The
three basic requirements must be present to have a successful chemical reaction.
1. The reactants must collide with each other. A basic principle of collision theory is that, in order to
react, molecules must collide. This fundamental rule guides any analysis of an ordinary reaction
mechanism. Consider a simple bimolecular step:
A + B → Products
If the two molecules A and B are to react, they must approach closely enough to disrupt some of
their existing bonds and to permit the creation of any new ones that are needed in the products. Such
an encounter is called a collision. The frequency of collisions between A and B in a gas is proportional
to the concentration of each; if [A] is doubled, the frequency of A−B collisions will double, and doubling
[B] will have the same effect. If all collisions lead to products, then the rate of a bimolecular process is
first-order in A and in B, or second-order overall: rate=k[A][B]
Illustration of the dependence of molecular collisions frequency with concentration. Image used with permission
(Sadi Carnot; Public Domain).
Figure 1
The frequency of collisions between A and B in a gas is proportional to the concentration of
each.
The collision theory says that H2 and N2 will only react when they collide. Hence, the more
frequently they collide, the faster the rate of reaction. This can be achieved easily by either increasing
the pressure on the gasses to bring H 2 and N2 closer together on average or by increasing the
temperature to makes molecules move faster.
Molecular collisions – is the more molecules present, the more collisions will happen. The
collision theory says that as more collisions in a system occur, there will be more combinations of
molecules bouncing into each other. If you have more possible combinations there is a higher chance
that the molecules will complete the reaction.
When two billiard balls collide, they simply bounce off of one another. This is also the most
likely outcome when two molecules, A and B, come in contact: they bounce off one another,
completely unchanged and unaffected. In order for a collision to be successful by resulting in a
chemical reaction, A and B must collide with sufficient energy to break chemical bonds. This is
because in any chemical reaction, chemical bonds in the reactants are broken, and new bonds in the
products are formed. Therefore, in order to effectively initiate a reaction, the reactants must be moving
fast enough (with enough kinetic energy) so that they collide with sufficient force for bonds to break.
This minimum energy with which molecules must be moving in order for a collision to result in a
chemical reaction is known as the activation energy.
In the Haber process (Equation 1) at 300 K only 1 in 10 11 collisions between H2 and N2 results
in a reaction! At 800 K, this increases to 1 in 10 4collisions resulting in a reaction. Hence, while the
collisions are needed for a reaction, other aspects contribute. Reacting particles can produce products
when they collide with one another provided those collisions have enough kinetic energy and the
correct orientation. Particles that lack the necessary kinetic energy may collide, but the particles will
simply bounce off one another unchanged. Figure 2 shows the difference. In the first collision, the
particles bounce off one another and no rearrangement of atoms has occurred. The second collision
occurs with greater kinetic energy, and so the bond between the two red atoms breaks. One red atom
bond with the other molecule as one product, while the single red atom is the other product. The first
collision is called an ineffective collision, while the second collision is called an effective collision.
Figure 2. An ineffective collision (A) is one that does not result in product formation.
An effective collision (B) is one in which chemical bonds are broken and a product is formed.
For a gas at room temperature and normal atmospheric pressure, there are about 10 33
collisions in each cubic centimeter of space every second. If every collision between two reactant
molecules yielded products, all reactions would be complete in a fraction of a second. For example,
when two billiard balls collide, they simply bounce off of each other. This is the most likely outcome if
the reaction between A and B requires a significant disruption or rearrangement of the bonds between
their atoms. In order to effectively initiate a reaction, collisions must be sufficiently energetic (or have
sufficient kinetic energy) to bring about this bond disruption.
A reaction will not take place unless the particles collide with a certain minimum energy called
the activation energy of the reaction. Activation energy is the minimum energy required to make a
reaction occur. This can be illustrated on an energy profile for the reaction. An energy profile for a
simple exothermic reaction is given in the Figure 3.
If the particles collide with less energy than the activation energy, nothing interesting happens.
They bounce apart. The activation energy can be thought of as a barrier to the reaction. Only those
collisions with energies equal to or greater than the activation energy result in a reaction.
Any chemical reaction results in the breaking of some bonds (which requires energy) and the
formation of new ones (which releases energy). Some bonds must be broken before new ones can be
formed. Activation energy is involved in breaking some of the original bonds. If a collision is relatively
gentle, there is insufficient energy available to initiate the bond-breaking process, and thus the
particles do not react.
Energetic collisions between molecules cause interatomic bonds to stretch and bend,
temporarily weakening them so that they become more susceptible to cleavage. Distortion of the
bonds can expose their associated electron clouds to interactions with other reactants that might lead
to the formation of new bonds.
Chemical bonds have some of the properties of mechanical springs: their potential energies
depend on the extent to which they are stretched or compressed. Each atom-to-atom bond can be
described by a potential energy diagram that shows how its energy changes with its length. When the
bond absorbs energy (either from heating or through a collision), it is elevated to a higher quantized
vibrational state (indicated by the horizontal lines) that weakens the bond as its length oscillates
between the extended limits corresponding to the curve in Figure 4.
When the bond absorbs energy (either from heating or through a collision), it is elevated to a
higher quantized vibrational state (indicated by the horizontal lines) that weakens the bond.
A particular collision will typically excite a number of bonds in this way. Within about 10 –13
seconds, this excitation is distributed among the other bonds in the molecule in complex and
unpredictable ways that can concentrate the added energy at a particularly vulnerable point. The
affected bond can stretch and bend farther, making it more susceptible to cleavage. Even if the bond
does not break by pure stretching, it can become distorted or twisted so as to expose nearby electron
clouds to interactions with other reactants that might encourage a reaction.
Because of the key role of activation energy in deciding whether a collision will result in a
reaction, it is useful to know the proportion of the particles present with high enough energies to react
when they collide. In any system, the particles present will have a very wide range of energies. For
gases, this can be shown on a graph called the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution, a plot showing the
number of particles with each particular energy.
Figure 5
The area under the curve measures of the total number of particles present. Remember that
for a reaction to occur, particles must collide with energies equal to or greater than the activation
energy for the reaction. The activation energy is marked on the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution with a
green line:
Figure 6
Notice that the large majority of the particles have insufficient energy to react when they
collide. To enable them to react, either the shape of the curve must be altered, or the activation energy
shifted further to the left to lower energies.
Even if two molecules collide with sufficient activation energy, there is no guarantee that the
collision will be successful. In fact, the collision theory says that not every collision is successful, even
if molecules are moving with enough energy. The reason for this is because molecules also need to
collide with the right orientation, so that the proper atoms line up with one another, and bonds can
break and re-form in the necessary fashion. However, because molecules in the liquid and gas phase
are in constant, random motion, there is always the probability that two molecules will collide in just the
right way for them to react.
With no knowledge of the reaction mechanism, one might wonder why collision 2 would be
unsuccessful. The double bond has a high concentration of negative charge around it due to the
electrons in the bonds. The approaching chlorine atom is also partially negative due to dipole created
by the electronegativity difference between it and hydrogen. The repulsion simply causes the
molecules to bounce off each other. In any collision involving unsymmetrical species, the way they hit
each other is important in determining whether a reaction occurs.
Consider a simple reaction involving a collision between two molecules: for example, ethene,
CH2=CH2, and hydrogen chloride, HCl. These react to give chloroethane as shown
Figure 7. The collisions display in the diagram, only collision 1 may possibly lead on to a reaction (if enough kinetic energy
is involved). The other three collisions will not lead to a reaction irrespective of the kinetic energy involved.
One thing to consider in a chemical reaction is to think that reactions are taking place due to
the collision of particles, resulting in the breaking of some chemical bonds of the reactants and the
creation of new bonds of the products. However, the only collisions that are effective are those in
which the colliding particles have sufficient energy. And this energy necessary for an effective collision
is known as activation energy and it is abbreviated as Ea.
For the reaction to take place, some, or all the chemical bonds in the reactants must be
broken so that new bonds, those of the products, can form. To get the bonds into a state that allows
them to break, the molecule must be contorted (deformed, or bent) into an unstable state called the
transition state. The transition state is a high-energy state, and some amount of energy – the
activation energy – must be added for the molecule to reach it. Because the transition state is
unstable, reactant molecules do not stay there long, but quickly proceed to the next step of the
chemical reaction.
Most chemical reactions that take place in cells are like the hydrocarbon combustion example:
the activation energy is too high for the reactions to proceed significantly at ambient temperature. At
first, this seems like a problem; after all, you cannot set off a spark inside of a cell without causing
damage. Fortunately, it is possible to lower the activation energy of a reaction, and to thereby increase
reaction rate. The process of speeding up a reaction by reducing its activation energy is known as
catalysis, and the factor that is added to lower the activation energy is called a catalyst.
A catalyst is a substance that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction but is not consumed
during the course of the reaction. A catalyst will appear in the steps of a reaction mechanism, but it
will not appear in the overall chemical reaction (as it is not a reactant or product). Generally, catalysts
alter the mechanism of the reaction in a substantial way such that the new barriers along the reaction
coordinate are significantly lower. By lowering the activation energy, the rate constant is greatly
increased (at the same temperature) relative to the uncatalyzed reaction.
The first criterion provides the basis for defining a catalyst as something that increases the
rate of a reaction. The second reflects the fact that anything consumed in the reaction is a reactant,
not a catalyst. The third criterion is a consequence of the second; because catalysts are not
consumed in the reaction, they can catalyze the reaction over and over again. The fourth criterion
results from the fact that catalysts speed up the rates of the forward and reverse reactions equally, so
the equilibrium constant for the reaction remains the same.
Effect of catalysts
The effect of a catalyst is that it lowers the activation energy for a reaction.
Generally, this happens because the catalyst changes the way the reaction happens (the
mechanism). We can visualize this for a simple reaction coordinate in the following way.
Many catalysts work in the same way. They provide a means for the reactant molecules to
break bonds and then form temporary bonds with the catalyst. This means the catalyst must be
somewhat reactive, but not too reactive (since we do not want these bonds to be permanent).
For example, platinum (Pt) metal serves as a catalyst for many reactions involving hydrogen
gas or oxygen gas. This is because the Pt surface allows the H 2 or O2 to break their bonds then form
atomic species that are "bonded" to the Pt. However, these new bonds can be weak enough that the
atomic species can then react with other molecules and leave the surface. In this way, the Pt metal
returns to its pristine state after the reaction. For example, the cartoon below depicts the reaction of
ethene and hydrogen gas. The hydrogen lands on the surface and breaks its bond to form H atoms
bonded to the surface (2). The double bond of the ethene is also broken and the two carbon atoms
also bond to the surface (3). Then the H atoms can migrate until they collide with the bound carbon
species and react (4) to form ethane which can then leave the surface (5).
Enzymes are biological catalysts. They are proteins that fold into particular conformations
such that they can help speed up very particular chemical reactions. For biochemical reactions, the
reactant is typically called the substrate. The substrate is converted into the product. The
mechanisms for many enzymes are very similar. The substrate(s) and the enzyme bind into a
complex. The physical location on the enzyme in which the substrate binds is called the "active site".
Once bound this complex can then weaken particular bonds in the substrate such that chemistry
occurs to form the product. The product is weakly bound to the substrate such that it now dissociates
and the enzyme is free to bind another substrate molecule.
Types of Catalyst
Catalysts may be classified generally according to their physical state, their chemical nature,
or the nature of the reactions that they catalyze.
Catalysts can be divided into two types, homogeneous or heterogeneous, depending on the
reaction phase that they occupy. Homogeneous catalysts are those that occupy the same phase as
the reaction mixture (typically liquid or gas), while heterogeneous catalysts occupy a different phase.
Homogeneous Catalysis
When the catalyst and the reacting substances are present together in a single state of
matter, usually as a gas or a liquid, it is customary to classify the reactions as cases of homogeneous
catalysis. Oxides of nitrogen serve as catalysts for the oxidation of sulfur dioxide in the lead chamber
process for producing sulfuric acid, an instance of homogeneous catalysis in which the catalyst and
reactants are gases.
This most often happens with gaseous catalyst-reactant pairs. Types of homogeneous
catalysts include organic acids in which the donated hydrogen atom is replaced by a metal, several
compounds blending carbon and metal elements in some form, and carbonyl compounds. An example
of this type of catalysis involving liquids is the conversion of persulfate and iodide ions to sulfate ion
and iodine:
S2O82- + 2 I- → 2 SO42- + I2
This reaction would have a difficult time proceeding on its own despite the favorable
energetics, because both reactants are negatively charged and therefore their electrostatic qualities
are in opposition to their chemical qualities. But if iron ions, which carry a positive charge, are added
to the mix, the iron "distracts" the negative charges and the reaction moves forward quickly.
An advantage of homogeneous catalysis is that the catalyst mixes into the reaction mixture,
allowing a very high degree of interaction between catalyst and reactant molecules. However, unlike
with heterogeneous catalysis, the homogeneous catalyst is often irrecoverable after the reaction has
run to completion.
Homogeneous catalysts are used in variety of industrial applications, as they allow for an
increase in reaction rate without an increase in temperature.
Heterogeneous Catalysis
A heterogeneous catalyst is a catalyst that is present in a different phase (usually a solid) than
the reactants. Such catalysts generally function by furnishing an active surface upon which a reaction
can occur. Gas and liquid phase reactions catalyzed by heterogeneous catalysts occur on the surface
of the catalyst rather than within the gas or liquid phase. Heterogeneous catalysis is most often
involves gaseous reactants being adsorbed on the surface of a solid catalyst. Adsorption refers to the
collection of one substance on the surface of another substance; absorption refers to the penetration
of one substance into another. Water is absorbed by the sponge.
Any one of these steps may be slow and thus may serve as the rate determining step. In
general, however, in the presence of the catalyst, the overall rate of the reaction is faster than it would
be if the reactants were in the gas or liquid phase.
Heterogeneous catalysis has several benefits. For one, heterogeneous catalysts can be
separated from a reaction mixture in a straightforward manner, such as by filtration. In this way,
expensive catalysts can be easily and effectively recovered, which is an important consideration for
industrial manufacturing processes.
However, one limitation of heterogeneous catalysis has to do with the available surface area
of the catalyst. Once the surface of the catalyst is completely saturated with reactant molecules, the
reaction cannot proceed until products leave the surface, and some space opens again for a new
reactant molecule to adsorb or attach. It is for this reason that the adsorption step in a
heterogeneously catalyzed reaction is oftentimes the rate-limiting step. Despite this, the overall
benefits of heterogeneous catalysis often outweigh its disadvantages, in that the catalyzed reaction is
still much faster than the uncatalyzed reaction.
Other significant industrial processes that involve the use of heterogeneous catalysts include
the preparation of sulfuric acid, the preparation of ammonia, the oxidation of ammonia to nitric acid,
and the synthesis of methanol, CH3OH.
Enzymes
Enzymes are proteins that function as catalysts in living systems. These enzymes have
components called substrate binding sites, or active sites, where the molecules involved in the
reaction under catalysis become attached. The component parts of all proteins are amino acids, and
each of these individual acids has an uneven charge distribution from one end to the other. This
property is the main reason enzymes possesses catalytic capabilities.
In general, when more substrate and more of an enzyme are present, the reaction will
proceed more quickly. But if more and more substrate is added without adding more enzyme as well,
all of the enzymatic binding sites become saturated, and the reaction has reached its maximum rate
for that enzyme concentration. Each reaction catalyzed by an enzyme can be represented in terms of
the intermediate products formed owing to the presence of the enzyme.
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Enzymes, although classified as category of catalyst distinct from those listed above, can be
either homogeneous or heterogeneous.
Enzyme molecules possess an active site, a part of the molecule with a shape that allows it to
bond to a specific substrate (a reactant molecule), forming an enzyme substrate complex as a
reaction intermediate. There are two models that attempt to explain how this active site works.
The simplest model is referred to as the lock and-key hypothesis, which suggests that the
molecular shapes of the active site and substrate are complementary, fitting together like a key in a
lock. The induced fit hypothesis, on the other hand, suggests that the enzyme molecule is flexible and
changes shape to accommodate a bond with the substrate. This is not to suggest that an enzyme’s
active site is completely malleable, however. Both the lock-and-key model and the induced fit model
account for the fact that enzymes can only bind with specific substrates, since in general a particular
enzyme only catalyzes a particular reaction (Figure 2).
POST-ASSESSMENT
A. Enrichment Activities
Activity 1. You Complete Me. Directions: Complete the following table by indicating which factor
would have the greatest impact on the rate of reaction. Choose from concentration, temperature,
surface area or catalyst. The first one has been done for you.
Scenario Factor
A. Effect of Temperature
Materials: Procedure
1. 2 clear glass or bottle 1. Fill the first glass with 200 mL hot water
2. 200 mL hot water and label it as glass A.
3. 200 mL cold water 2. Fill the second glass with 200 mL cold
4. 2 teaspoon coffee water and label it as glass B.
3. Pour 1 teaspoon of coffee on each glass
simultaneously.
4. Observe what happened.
Guide Questions
1. Which glass dissolved or dispersed the coffee first?
2. Which glass dissolved or dispersed the coffee last?
3. Based on the result of your experiment, conclude on the effect of the temperature on the rate of
reaction.
B. Effect of Concentration
Guide Questions:
1. Can you propose a way by which the rate of reaction may be quantitatively measured?
2. Which glass produces more bubbles? Why do you think so?
Guide Questions
1. Which tablet was dissolved first in water?
2. Based on your experiment, conclude about the effect of surface area / particle size on the speed
of reaction.
Guide Question
1. Which glass produces more bubbles? Why is this so?
E. Effect of Catalyst
Materials:
1. 250 g papaya (Carica papaya) 3. Prepare two casserole with 1L water each
2. 1 kg native chicken meat portioned into and label them as A and B.
two equal parts (exclude body parts that 4. Put one set of the chicken meat in
do not come in pairs) casserole A and the other set in casserole
3. Water B.
Procedure: 5. Add the 250 g peeled unripe papaya in
1. Prepare 250 g of peeled unripe papaya casserole B.
2. Measure two sets of 1 kg chicken meat 6. Simultaneously boil/cook the two sets of
(preferably of the same kind & part of chicken in a medium heat for 20 minutes.
chicken).
Guide Questions
1. Which chicken is more tender? Why is this so?
2. What do you think is the role of the papaya in cooking the chicken?
3. What conclusion can you derive based on the activity?
Activity 3: Complete Me! Directions: Write the order of the reactant from the given chemical reactions:
Activity 4: CROSSWORD PUZZLE. Directions: Reveal the word in the box by answering the following
questions.
Across
1. It explains the different reactions occur a different rate and suggest ways to change the rate of
reaction.
2. ______ energy is the minimum energy with which reactants must collide in order for a
reaction to occur
3. One of the basic principles of collision theory is to have a proper ________.
Down
STEM General Chemistry 2 Q3 Module 3
25
Activity 5: WHERE IS THE CATALYSTS? Directions: Identify the catalyst in the following statements.
Write your answer on the space provided after each statement.
1. Hydrogen peroxide will decompose into water and oxygen gas. Two molecules of hydrogen
peroxide will produce two molecules of water and one molecule of oxygen. Adding potassium
permanganate to the hydrogen peroxide will cause a reaction that produces a lot of heat, and
water vapor will shoot out.
2. The catalytic converter in a car contains platinum, which change carbon monoxide, which is
toxic, into carbon dioxide.
3. If you light a match in a room with hydrogen gas and oxygen gas, there will be an explosion
and most of the hydrogen and oxygen will combine to create water molecules.
4. Through normal cell processes, living things produce hydrogen peroxide in their cells. But
hydrogen peroxide is a poison so the cells need a way to break it down very quickly. Cells
contain catalase, which breaks down hydrogen peroxide at a very fast rate.
5. Protein is broken down in the stomach by the enzyme pepsin. ______________
Activity 6. Operation: Word Search! Directions: Locate and encircle the term being described in each
item below the grid. The words can be found horizontally, vertically, horizontally or in reverse. Write
also the term being described on each item at the space provided.
10. When the catalyst and the reacting substances are present together in a single state of
matter, usually as a ______ or a ________, it is customary to classify the reactions as cases
of homogeneous catalysis.
Post-Test. Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a
separate
sheet of paper.
4. Why does the rate of a chemical reaction increase with a rise in the temperature of the
reactants?
a. Heat decreases the surface area of particles available for collision.
b. Heat makes the particles of the reactants move more rapidly, which enhances the
possibility of collisions.
c. Heat increases the concentration of the reactants by evaporating some of them.
d. Heat makes the molecules react more frequently by increasing their size.
10. All of the following statements are correct about effective collisions EXCEPT ___.
a. effective collisions have favorable geometry
b. effective collisions have sufficient energy
c. all collisions are successful
d. a collision is required
11. The _____________ is a chemical species with partially broken and partially formed bonds
which possess high energy.
a. energy profile c. activation energy
b. activated complex d. reaction mechanism
12. Which of the following statements is incorrect about chemical reaction and molecular
collision?
a. Any chemical reaction results in the breaking of some bonds (which requires energy)
and the formation of new ones (which releases energy).
b. Particles that lack the necessary kinetic energy may collide and will not result to a
chemical reaction.
c. If a collision is relatively gentle, there is sufficient energy available to initiate the
bond-breaking process, and thus the particles do not react.
d. Activation energy is involved in breaking some of the original bonds
14. Which of the following would NOT increase the rate of reaction?
a. raising the temperature c. increasing the concentration of the reactants
b. adding catalyst d. increasing the volume of the container
15. The energy needed for a reaction to proceed from reactants to products is called
__________.
a. collision energy. c. kinetic energy.
b. potential energy. d. kinetic energy.
16. The catalyzed reaction has a _____ activation energy and thus causes a _____ reaction rate.
a. higher, lower c. higher, steady
b. higher, higher d. lower, higher
18. Which of the following is present in a reaction where in the catalyst exist in a different phase
from the reactant’s molecules?
a. homogeneous c. heterogeneous catalyst
b. heterogenized homogeneous catalyst d. enzymes