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STEM
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General Chemistry 2
Quarter 2- Week 4 (Module 19)
Activation Energy and How Catalyst
Affects Rate of Reaction
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General Chemistry 2 (SHS-STEM)
Quarter 2 – Week 4 (Module 19): Activation Energy and How Catalyst Affects Rate of
Reaction

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Regional Director: Gilbert T. Sadsad

Assistant Regional Director: Jessie L. Amin

Development Team of the Module

Writer: Dona B. Burac

Editors/ Reviewers: Arlen B. Bertiz

Ronaldo C. Reyes
Noel V. Ibis
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•Explain activation energy and

how a catalyst affects the rate of
reaction
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Supplementary Learning Module for Senior High School Learners

LESSON
Activation energy and how a catalyst affects the
rate of reaction

Have you wondered why some reactions occur spontaneously while others do
so slowly? This is because chemical reactions have different characteristics and
require different conditions to proceed.

In the previous module, we have learned about the different factors that affect
the rate of reaction. Remember that in a chemical reaction, the rate of reaction refers
to the decrease in the amount of reactants or the increase in the amount of products
per unit interval of time. And the collision theory of reaction rates is based on the fact
that in order for reactions to take place the reacting molecules must collide in a
proper geometric orientation and must have sufficient energy to overcome the
energy barrier, called the activation energy.

As you read and go over with this module,

you are expected to achieve the following learning
competency;

At the end of this module, you should be able to:

1. define activation energy conceptually

2. explain activation energy and how a catalyst affects the reaction rate.

Pretest:

Direction: Read the questions carefully and write the letter of your answers in your
science notebook.

1. The rate of a reaction depends on __________.

a. collision frequency
b. collision orientation
c. collision energy
d. all of the above

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2. Which of the following conditions shall correctly complete the statement?
__________ will lower the activation energy for a reaction.
a. Increasing the concentrations of reactants
b. Raising the temperature of the reaction
c. Adding a catalyst for the reaction
d. Removing products as the reaction proceeds

3. The minimum amount of energy needed to start a reaction is called the

a. activation energy.
b. energy of reaction.
c. entropy of reaction
d. reaction mechanism energy

4. When a lit match is touched to the wick of a candle, the candle begins to burn.
When the match is removed, the candle continues to burn, the match,
a. behaves as a catalyst
b. supplies the activation energy
c. is part of the rate determining step
d. lowers the activation energy barrier

5. Which of the following statements is typically true for a catalyst?

I. The concentration of the catalyst will go down as the reaction proceeds.
II. The catalyst provides a new pathway in the reaction mechanism.
III. The catalyst speeds up the reaction.
a. I only
b. II only
c. I and II
d. II and III

At this point you already encountered a lot of chemical reactions. Some

reactions are very rapid due to a low activation energy and others are very slow due
to a high activation energy. As mentioned earlier, activation energy is the minimum
energy required to initiate a chemical reaction. And a reaction would only happen if
the colliding particles have sufficient energy to overcome the energy barrier, as
stated in the collision theory.

You may study the figure

below to understand the
collision theory.

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Fig. 1. Effect of orientation and activation energy on the reaction or formation

of product/s.

1. What are the conditions for an effective collision?

To learn more about activation

energy and how a catalyst affects the
rate of reaction, you can perform the
following activity.

Caution:

Please read and follow the laboratory safety

before, during and after performing an
experiment.

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Objective:

Describe the effect of a catalyst on the activation

energy and on the rate of reaction.

Materials:

1 transparent glass or cup

10 mL Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) (agua oxinada)

0.1 g Yeast

Procedure:

1. Pour about 10 mL of hydrogen peroxide (agua oxinada) into a small

glass or cup. Observe the hydrogen peroxide.

Warning:

Hydrogen peroxide is corrosive. Avoid

contact with skin and eyes.

2. Add 0.1 g of yeast on the hydrogen peroxide and gently stir it with
toothpick, and observe the mixture again.

Guide Questions:

1. What are the products formed when the hydrogen peroxide decomposes?
2. Why do you think, bubbles are formed in step 2 but not in step 1?
3. What do you think will happen if you added more yeast on the mixture?
4. What do you think will happen if you did not stir the mixture?
5. What do you think is the role of yeast in the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide?

Congratulations! You did

the activity so well.

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Activation Energy

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.

Since the collision of molecules is related to the kinetic energy of molecules,

and kinetic energy is affected by temperature, we can also include the idea of
activation energy on an enthalpy diagram that shows the course of a reaction.

This figure shows an

exothermic reaction with a small
activation energy. This reaction
will take place rapidly at room
temperature, since the particles
have an enough energy for an
effective of collision.

Fig. 2. Energy profile diagram for an exothermic reaction.

This figure shows an endothermic

reaction with a large activation energy.
This reaction will take slowly at room
temperature because very few collisions
will have sufficient energy to bring about
a reaction.

Fig. 3. Energy profile diagram for an endothermic reaction.

2. What is the effect of activation energy on the rate of reaction?

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Catalyst

In the previous module, you already encountered the word catalyst. We have
learned that catalysts are substances that alter the rate of chemical reactions without
being chemically changed themselves. Since catalysts are not used up in the
reaction, it is cheaper to use a catalyst to speed up a reaction than by using high
temperature and pressure.

In this section, we will be studying on how catalysts work. Catalysts work by

providing a new pathway for the reaction with a lower activation energy. We can
examine the diagram in the figure 4, to learn more about the effect of catalyts on the
rate of reaction.

This figure shows that

the reaction without catalyst
(blue) has a larger activation
energy as compared to the
reaction with catalyst (red).
This simply means that the
reaction rate can be hasten in a
catalyzed reaction due to a
lower activation energy.

Fig. 4. Comparison of catalyzed and uncatalyzed reaction.

Reactions with lower activation energy, due to the presence of catalyst will
speed up the rate of reaction. Increase in the reaction rate for this matter is due to
the fact that more particles had an enough energy to overcome the energy barrier,
thus they were able to have an effective collision.

Enzymes are examples of catalyst. Enzymes are essential catalysts in

biological systems. These are biological proteins that are vital to most life.

Enzymes have wide applications even in industrial processes. Biological

detergents are examples of the use of enzymes. These detergents may contain
amylases for the decomposition of starch, proteases for proteins, and lipases for fats
and oils.

3. What is the effect of catalyst on the activation energy?

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Let us now summarize the concepts we have learned
in this module.

Summary and Key Concepts

Activation energy (Ea) is the minimum energy (kinetic or potential)

required to initiate a reaction.

Only colliding particles with correct orientation and sufficient energy will
result to an effective collision or formation of product.

Catalysts are molecules that speed up the reaction rate without being
consumed by the reaction. They increase the number of successful collisions
by means of reducing the activation energy of the reaction.

Enzymes are biological proteins, and they are called biological catalysts
that enhance the reactions in biological systems.

Vocabulary

Activation energy (Ea) = is the minimum energy (kinetic or potential) required

to initiate a reaction.

Catalysts = are molecules that speed up the reaction rate without being
consumed by the reaction

Catalyzed Reactions = are reactions with catalyst.

Endothermic Reaction = a reaction that absorbs energy.

Enzymes = are biological proteins, and they are called biological catalysts that
enhance the reactions in biological systems.

Exothermic Reaction = a reaction that releases energy.

Uncatalyzed Reactions = are reactions without a catalyst.

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Let us now check how

much you have learned in this
module by answering the
following questions.

Post Test:

Direction: Multiple Choice. Write the letter corresponding to the best answer on your
paper.

1. A catalyst increases the rate of a reaction by

a. increasing the concentration of reactant(s).
b. decreasing the concentration of the reactant(s).
c. increasing the activation energy of the overall reaction.
d. decreasing the activation energy of the overall reaction.

2. Which of the following are necessary for successful collisions to occur?

I. Favorable collision geometry.

II. Sufficient kinetic energy.
III. Large ∆H.
a. I only
b. I and II only
c. II and III only
d. I, II and III

3. Which of the following would NOT increase the rate of reaction?

a. raising the temperature

b. adding catalyst
c. increasing the concentration of the reactants
d. increasing the volume of the container

4. The energy needed for a reaction to proceed from reactants to products is called
__________.

a. collision energy.
b. potential energy.
c. kinetic energy.
d. activation energy.

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5. The catalyzed reaction has a _____ activation energy and thus causes a _____
reaction rate.

a. higher, lower
b. higher, higher
c. higher, steady
d. lower, higher

Congratulations!

You may check your answer on the

answer key below.

Note: A score of 13 to 12 from self check, guide

questions and post test means excellent, 11 to
10 means very good, 9 and below means you
need to read again the module, and perform the
activity until you master the concepts and skills.

Answer key:

Pretest:

1. D
2. C
3. A
4. B
5. D

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Self Check:

1. The particles should be on correct orientation during collision and they

must also possess sufficient energy.
2. Reactions with low activation energy have a high reaction rate, while those
with large activation energy have a low reaction rate.
3. The catalyst lowers the activation energy of the reaction thus it enhances
the rate of reaction.

Guide Questions:

1. Water (H2O) and oxygen (O2)

2. There is a catalyst in step 2 and no catalyst in step 1
3. It will speed up more the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)
4. The reaction will not as fast as in step 2
5. The presence of yeast serves as a catalyst in the decomposition of hydrogen
peroxide (H2O2)

Post Test:

1. D
2. B
3. D
4. D
5. D

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References:

Ayson, Marissa F. et. Al ( 2016). General Chemistry 2 for Senior High School. Vibal
Group, Inc. 1253 G. Araneta Avenue, Quezon City, Metro Manila

Dudley Herron J., et Al (1993). Heath Chemistry Teacher’s Edition, D.C. Heath and
Company

GCSE OCR Gateway Additional Science Higher Revision Guide

Lister,Ted; Renshaw, Janet; Thornes, Nelson (2008).AQA Chemistry

Santiago, Karen S. (2016). Exploring Life Through Science Physical Science,

Phoenix Publishing House Inc.

Timberlake, Karen. (2007).General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry. 2 nd Ed.

Pearson Education, Inc.

Electronic Links:

https://opentextbc.ca/chemistry/chapter/12-2-factors-affecting-reaction-rates/

https://www.unf.edu/~michael.lufaso/chem2046/2046chapter14.pdf

https://www.bcsoh.org/cms/lib3/OH01001261/Centricity/Domain/763/factors%20affec
ting%20reaction%20rate.pdf

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/high-school-biology/hs-energy-and-
transport/hs-enzymes/a/activation-energy

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK21680/

http://www.chem.uiuc.edu/rogers/text13/tx133/tx133fr.html

https://www.google.com/search?q=concentration+of+solution

https://www.google.com/search?q=reading+cartoon

https://www.google.com/search?q=collision+theory+images

https://www.google.com/search?q=cute+teacher+cartoon+png

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