Senior High School

Physical Science
Quarter 3 - Module 5
 Collision Theory and Chemical
Reaction Rate
 Catalyst
 What I Need To Know

This module is designed to deepen your knowledge about Collision Theory and
Catalyst.
The module is divided into two lessons, namely:
• Lesson 1 -Collision Theory and Chemical Reaction Rate
• Lesson 2 -Catalyst

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. use of simple collision theory or explain the effects of concentration, temperature, and
Particle size on the rate of reaction (S11/12PS-IIIf-23) and
2. define catalyst and describe how it affects reaction rate (S11/12PS-IIIf-24).

Physical Science Collision Theory and Chemical

Module 5 Lesson 1 Reaction Rate
Chemical reactions have been a part of this world ever since everything began. From
Big bang to the present day, everything happening around us has something to do with
chemical reactions and chemical processes. Chemical reactions are common in our daily lives:
from cooking, eating, cleaning to the different chemical processes like respiration, corrosion
and fermentation. How our body lives and grows are results of many chemical reactions that
takes place, although you may not recognize them. This is the reason we need to understand
how chemical processes takes place, be it naturally occurring or not. This lesson will help
enhance your understanding about how chemical reaction occurs and what are the different
factors affecting chemical reaction.

What’s In
Chemical or Physical Change?
Directions: Identify what kind of change occurs by writing the word Physical
change or Chemical change.
1. Baking a pie _______________________________
2. Burning a paper _______________________________
3. Dissolving coffee in hot water _______________________________
4. Dissolving sugar in water _______________________________
5. Mixing paint to make a new color _______________________________

What’s New
Directions: Complete the sentence about reaction based on the given illustration.

A reaction ____________________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________

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 What is It
The Collision Theory
All substances are comprised of millions of tiny particles in constant motion. These
particles are colliding with each other constantly in any substance. All collisions between
particles do not result in a reaction. There are two factors that determine whether a reaction
will occur between two particles that are colliding:
1. Substances or particles of reactants must physically collide with enough energy
2. Substance or particles must come into contact or collide in the correct orientation
(facing the correct way).

The collision theory states that reacting substances must come into contact (collide)
with enough activation energy, and in the correct orientation (facing the correct way), so that
their electron shells can rearrange to form the products of the reaction. Therefore, any factor
which changes the frequency or energy of the collisions will change the rate of the reaction. Try
to analyze the illustrations given below:

Figure 1

As shown in figure 1, two atoms of Nitrogen react with two atoms of Oxygen to yield two
molecules of Nitrogen Oxide. The shared atoms form a bond by completing the valence shells of
both atoms.

Figure 2

As shown in figure 2, a chemical reaction does not take place if the collision between molecules
does not have sufficient energy to break the bonds in the reactants and if the molecules are not
properly aligned.
 3

Figure 3 Figure 4
As shown in figures 3 and 4, no reaction can take place between two particles if they are far
apart. To form new bonds, atoms must come in contact with each other and have correct
relative orientations so that the correct bonds are broken, atoms transfer to the correct
positions (see also Figure 1).

What is a Chemical Reaction?

When two particles collide, sometimes a chemical reaction can occur, which means the bonds
between two or more particles are broken and reformed, creating one or more new substances.
The substances or particles that enter and is changed in the chemical reaction are called
reactants and the substances that are formed are called products.

Let us look at the chemical reaction in photosynthesis:

The reactants (left part of the equation) are carbon dioxide, water, and light while the products
(right side of the equation) are sugar and oxygen. But for a chemical reaction to occur, several
things must happen:
1. The particles must come into contact with one another or collide.
2. When the particles collide, the particles must be aligned correctly so that the right
parts of the atoms or molecules are exposed. If they are not oriented correctly, no chemical
reaction will take place.
3. The particles must collide with enough energy to break their chemical bonds. The
amount of energy that must be available for a reaction to occur is often referred to as the
activation energy. It is the measure of the change in the concentration of the reactants or
products.
The reaction rate of a chemical reaction is a measurement of the increase in the
concentration of a product or the decrease in the concentration of a reactant as the reaction
proceeds over time. Keep in mind that not all reactions occur at the same speed. Some are very
slow while others are fast. The rate of reaction also depends on the type of molecules that are
combining. If there are low concentrations of an essential element or compound, the reaction
will be slower.

Factors Affecting the Rate of Reaction

1. Activation Energy
The activation energy refers to the minimum energy required for a reaction to take
place. When a collision provides energy equal to or greater than the activation energy,
product can form. On the other hand, if the particles have energy that is less than the
 activation energy, the collision is not effective, and they just bounce off each other
unchanged.
4

The figure above shows a man trying to push a rock over the cliff. For the man to push the
rock, he needs to have enough energy. If the man does not have enough energy, the rock will
not move down the cliff. This energy needed for the man to push the rock over the cliff
represents the activation energy.

Can you think of another example to show how activation energy works?
__________________________________________________________________________________

2. Temperature
Temperature refers to how hot or cold a certain substance is. Usually, a rise in
temperature of 10 0C doubles the reaction rate. The rate of a chemical reaction increases
with increasing temperature. As the temperature increases, collision between atoms and
molecules becomes faster resulting to build up of more energy. The increased kinetic
energy will equal to or exceed the activation energy resulting to more collisions giving
rise to a reaction.
Arrange the following samples according to the rate of solubility of sugar.
(1 -fastest, 3-slowest)

3. Concentration
The rate of a chemical reaction is affected by the concentration of reacting substances.
The term concentration refers to the number of particles present in a given volume of
solution. Concentration may also mean a measure of how much of of the solute
(something to be dissolved) is dissolved in a solvent (dissolving medium) to form a
homogeneous mixture. So, a higher concentration means there is more of the solute in
the solution. If the concentration of the reactant is increased, the rate of reaction also
increases. When the number of particles of the reactant is increased, there is a great
chance for particles to collide.
To illustrate:
 5
Now, let’s try to analyze the picture below:

Low concentration= few collisions High concentrations = more collisions

a. .Based on the Kinetic Molecular Theory (KMT) and properties of matter, why do you
think there is less collision on the left side while there is more collision on the right side?
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
b. What can you deduced (conclude) about the effect of concentration on the rate of chemical
reaction?
__________________________________________________________________________________

4. Surface Area and Particle Size

Surface area is the measure of how much exposed area a solid object has, expressed
in square units. In a reaction between a solid and a liquid, the more finely divided a solid
is, the faster is the rate of reaction. Likewise, as you powdered a solid, its surface area
becomes greater, thus the particles have higher chance of colliding and faster reaction
happens. To understand this further, try to analyze the picture and answer the
questions below:

Figure 1 Figure 2
a. How many reactant particles can be seen on Figure 1? __________________________
b. Which do you think is the solid particle on Figure 1? _____________________________
c. What have you observed to the reactant particles in Figure 2? ____________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
d. In which container will the solid particle dissolve faster and why?
__________________________________________________________________________________
 What’s More
I. MODIFIED TRUE OR FALSE
Directions: Write the word TRUE if the statement is correct. If the statement is FALSE,
change the italicized word to make the statement correct.
_______________1. Decreasing the concentration of the reactants increases the collision
frequency between reacting particles.
_______________2. Increasing the concentration of a substance increases the kinetic energy of
the particles that make up the substance.
_______________3. Increasing the surface area of the reactant, increases the rate of the reaction.
_______________4. Raising the temperature of the reaction increases the rate of the reaction by
increasing the energy of the collisions between reacting particles.
_______________5. If the reactant particles collide with less than the activation energy, the
particles bounce back and no reaction will occur.
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II. IDENTIFICATION
Directions: Identify what factor affects the rate of chemical reaction in the following
situations. Use the choices below by writing the correct letter before the number.

A. Temperature B. Concentrations C. Particle Size

________6. The food was refrigerated.
________7. A coal dust explosion happen in mines.
________8. Acid rain erodes marble fast.
________9. Two antacid tablets neutralizes acids faster than one tablet.
________10. Kindling is used to start a fire.

What I Have Learned

SENTENCE COMPLETION
Directions: Complete the group of words to form relevant ideas about the lesson.

1-3. According to the collision theory, there are three (3) requirements for a reaction to
occur these are ________________________________________, __________________________________
and ________________________________.
4-7. The factors that can affect the rate of reaction are _________________________,
_________________________, _________________________ and _________________________.
8. Increasing the concentration of reactants in a solution ______________________ the
frequency of collision of particles and the rate of reaction.
9. Increasing the concentration means, there is more of _________________________in the
solution.
10. Increasing the temperature _________________________ the collision of particles.
11. Increasing the temperature _________________________ the kinetic energy of particles.
12. The greater the size of particles, the _________________________ is the surface area.
13. The smaller the size of particles, the _________________________ is the surface area.
14-15. Remember, not all reactions happen at the same speed. Some are
_________________________ while others are _________________________.

Physical Science
Module 5 Lesson 2 Catalyst

Reaction rates generally increase with increasing reactant concentration, increasing

temperature, and the addition of a catalyst. Physical properties such as high solubility also
increase reaction rates. Solvent polarity can either increase or decrease the rate of reaction, but
increasing solvent viscosity generally decreases reaction rates.
This information is obtained by studying the chemical kinetics of a reaction, which
depend on various factors: reactant concentrations, temperature, physical states and surface
areas of reactants, and solvent and catalyst properties if either are present.
 What’s In

Direction. Fill in the blanks to complete the passage below by using the words found in the box. Write
your answer on the answer sheet.

concentration activation energy catalyst

temperature particle size enzymes
Increasing the ___________ of a system increases the average kinetic energy of its constituent
particles. As the average kinetic energy increases, the particles move faster and collide more frequently
per unit time and possess greater energy when they collide. When the ___________ of all the reactants
increases, more molecules or ions interact to form new compounds, and the rate of reaction increases.
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When solids and liquids react, increasing the surface area of the solid will increase the reaction rate. A
decrease in ___________ causes an increase in the solid’s total surface area. Collisions only result in a
reaction if the particles collide with a certain minimum energy called the ___________ for the reaction.
The position of activation energy can be determined on a Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution. To increase the
rate of a reaction, the number of successful collisions must be increased. One possible way of doing this
is to provide an alternative way for the reaction to happen which has a lower activation energy. Adding
___________ has this effect on activation energy. It provides an alternative route for the reaction with a
lower activation energy. Catalysts are everywhere! Many biochemical processes, such as the oxidation of
glucose, are heavily dependent on ___________, proteins that behave as catalysts.

What’s New
In baking, Baker's yeast is the common name for the strains of yeast commonly used
in baking bread and bakery products, serving as a leavening agent which causes the bread to
rise (expand and become lighter and softer) by converting the fermentable sugars present in the
dough into carbon dioxide and ethanol. The yeast act as the catalyst in the process. It
increases the rate of reaction without itself being consumed. There are also some fruits that are
affected by catalysts.

Activity 1
So, apples go brown when their flesh reacts with air. In the pictures below, which apple will go
brown the quickest? Why?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________.

Figure 1: Apple set ups in different sizes.

What is It
Activation energy: the minimum energy required for a reaction to occur.
Catalysis: the increase in the rate of a chemical reaction by lowering its activation energy.
Transition state: an intermediate state during a chemical reaction that has a higher energy
than the reactants or the products.
Maxwell-Boltzmann Distribution: a probability distribution used for describing the speeds
of various particles within a stationary container at a specific temperature. The
distribution is often represented with a graph, with the y-axis defined as the
number of molecules and the x-axis defined as the speed.

The Effect of a Catalyst on Rate of Reaction

 This part explains how adding a catalyst affects the rate of reaction. It assumes
familiarity with basic concepts in the collision theory of reaction rates, and with the Maxwell-
Boltzmann distribution of molecular energies in a gas. A catalyst is a substance which speeds
up a reaction, but is chemically unchanged at its end. When the reaction has finished, the
mass of catalyst is the same as at the beginning. Several examples of catalyzed reactions and
their respective catalysts are given below:

Reaction Catalyst
Decomposition of hydrogen peroxide Manganese (IV) oxide, MnO2
Nitration of benzene concentrated sulfuric acid
Manufacture of ammonia by the Haber Process iron
Conversion of SO2 into SO3 during the vanadium(V) oxide, V2O5
Contact Process to make sulfuric acid
Hydrogenation of a C=C double bond nickel
8
The Importance of Activation Energy
Collisions only result in a reaction if the particles collide with a certain minimum energy called
the activation energy for the reaction. The position of activation energy can be determined on a
Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution:

Only those particles represented by the area to the right of the activation energy will react when
they collide. The majority do not have enough energy, and will simply bounce apart.

To increase the rate of a reaction, the number of successful collisions must be increased. One
possible way of doing this is to provide an alternative way for the reaction to happen which has
a lower activation energy. In other words, to move the activation energy to the left on the graph:

Adding a catalyst has this effect on activation energy. A catalyst provides an alternative route
for the reaction with a lower activation energy. This is illustrated on the following energy
profile:
 What’s More
Catalyst is one of the factors that can affect the rate of reaction along with
concentration, temperature, and size of the particles.
Try to research a video that shows a simple experiment and a discussion on how catalyst
react with substances, hence affecting its rate. Answer the following questions below.
1. What is a catalyst? _____________________________________________________________
2. How does catalyst work? ________________________________________________________

What I Have Learned

Complete the group of words to form relevant ideas about the lesson. Do this in a separate
sheet of paper.
➢ A catalyst is…
➢ An enzyme…
➢ Activation energy is related to rate of reaction because…
➢ Without catalyst, life is

Answer Key

Physical Science Q3, Module 5 Lesson 1

What’s In What’s New- There is combining of two or more elements to form
a compound. A bond was formed between elements.
1. Chemical
2. Chemical
3. Physical
4. Physical
5. Chemical
What Is It
1. Activation Energy. A cyclist going up a steep road. Or any activity that requires exerting
energy and force.
2. Temperature
Hot Water 1; Tap water 2; Cold water- 3
3. Concentration
a. The particles on the left side has more spaces between them so there is less collision between
particles.
b. When there is more number of solute/particles, there is a greater chance of collision
causing the increase rate of reaction.
4. Size of - particle/surface area
a. 3; b. Magnesium atom; c.they are broken into smaller pieces;
d. Figure 2 because the particles are smaller which increases the surface area
What’s More What I have Learned
1.Increasing 1-3. Collision of particles, Orientation and Activation
2. True 4-7. Activation Energy, Temperature, Concentration and Particle
 10

Physical Science Q3, Module 5 Lesson 2

What’s In
1. temperature
2. concentration
3. particle size
4. activation energy
5. catalyst
6. enzymes
What’s New
Apple D will go brown the quickest. Since apple’s flesh reacts to air, it makes apple A,B, C to
go brown slower than D. And by applying the factors affecting the rate of reaction, it will be the
one with the smallest surface area, hence letter D. The process of the reaction that takes
place here when an enzyme reacts to air is enzymatic browning.

What’s More
ANSWER SHEET
1. It speeds up the reaction but not used up in the reaction.
2. It provides an alternative pathway for the reaction to occur. This has a lower activation
energy.
What I Have Learned
1. A catalyst is a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction, but is not consumed by
reaction; hence a catalyst can be recovered chemically unchanged at the end of the reaction
it has been used to speed up, or catalyze.
2. Enzymes are biological molecules (typically proteins) that significantly speed up the
rate of virtually all of the chemical reactions that take place within cells.
3. The activation energy of a chemical reaction is closely related to its rate. Specifically,
the higher the activation energy, the slower the chemical reaction will be. This is
because molecules can only complete the reaction once they have reached the top of
the activation energy barrier.
4. Answers may vary.

References
Physical Science Alternative Delivery Mode Quarter 1 – Module 8: Collision Theory and
Chemical Reaction Rate First Edition 2020
Physical Science Alternative Delivery Mode Quarter 1 – Module 9: Catalyst
First Edition 2020

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