Rates of Reaction

Maxwell Boltzmann Distribution

Concentration

Temperature

Increasing the concentration increases the rate of a

Increasing the temperature increases the rate of a

reaction. This is because there are more particles in the

reaction. This is because the particles move more quickly,

same volume therefore there will be more collisions. More

there will be more collisions and the proportion of

of these collisions will have the required energy.

collisions which have the required energy is increased.

Enthalpy Profile Diagram

Catalysts

Temperature

A catalyst provides an alternative pathway of lower

activiation energy

Catalysts save energy because they

lower the activation energy
therefore lower temperatures are

At higher temperatures the curve shifts to the right. The

needed.

number of molecules exceeding Ea increases (area under the

graph is bigger)

Catalysts

Enzymes are biological catalysts

Examples of catalysts
Iron in the production of ammonia
Nickel in the production of margarine
With a catalyst the activation energy is lowered. More
particles have the required energy to react (the area under
the curve is greater)