Rate of Reaction - Collision Theory
Chemistry: Edexcel IGCSE, topic 14.2.3
Collision Theory
Collision theory explains how reactions occur and why they occur at different rates.
Particle collisions
- Particles must collide for chemical reactions to happen.
- Importantly, these collisions must happen with enough energy.
- This minimum amount of energy is known as the activation energy.
Activation energy
- The activation energy is the minimum energy with which particles must collide in order to cause a chemical reaction.
Rate of reaction
- We can increase the rate of a reaction by increasing the number of collisions and/or the energy of reactant particles.
- We can do this by changing the four main factors affecting reaction rates.
- Temperature
- Concentration
- Pressure (for gases)
- Surface area
Test yourself on Rate of Reaction - Collision Theory
What happens when particles collide with less energy than the activation energy?
What does collision theory say the minimum requirements are for a reaction to happen?
According to collision theory, how can we increase the rate of a reaction?