Collision theory explains the theory behind how reactions occur at a molecular level. For a molecule to react, they must meet certain criteria that are listed below.

Collision theory dictates that:

• Particles must collide to have a chance to react
• Particles must collide with sufficient energy to react to break the bonds of the reactants.
• The more particles that have sufficiently energetic collisions in a given time, the higher the rate of reaction

Factors that affect the rate of reactions are listed below.

Concentration

By changing the concentration, the number of particles present will also be altered. Hence, if we increase concentration, we also increase the number of particles which means there is a higher frequency of collisions and thus more chance of successful collisions.

Pressure

Increasing pressure can be comparable to increasing concentration. By increasing pressure, more gaseous molecules are forced to occupy a smaller space than they would at low pressures. Thus, increasing pressure causes a higher frequency of collisions and thus increases the chance of successful collisions.

Temperature

Diagram showing the affect temperature has on the amount of particles with sufficient energy to react.¹

High temperature can be also thought of as higher energy. An increase in temperature means that more particles will have sufficient energy to break the activation barrier and thus increasing temperature increases the chance of successful collisions.

Catalyst

Diagram showing how activation energy is lowered and thus more particles have sufficient energy to react in the presence of a catalyst.²

Unlike temperature where activation energy is constant and increasing temperature increases the amount of molecules with sufficient activation energy, using a catalyst not only speeds up the reaction but it does so by lowering the activation energy of the reaction. Catalysts lower the activation energy of a reaction as it is capable of distorting the bonds of reactants or breaking them completely.

By lowering the activation energy, the number of molecules with sufficient energy to overcome the activation barrier increases and thus the chance of successful collisions also increases. Add pic

There are two main types of catalysts:

• Homogenous Catalysts – catalysts that are in the same state as the product and reactants. An example being chlorine gas.
• Heterogenous catalysts – catalysts that are in different states from the reactants and products. These types of catalysts are normally favoured as they can be more easily separated from the products.

See Also

1. http://yite12ibchem.blogspot.com.au/2011/05/collision-theory-3.html ↩

2. http://yite12ibchem.blogspot.com.au/2011/05/collision-theory-3.html ↩