ACTIVITY SHEET IN GENERAL CHEMISTRY 2

LC: Explain reactions quantitatively in terms of molecular collision; explain activation energy and how a
catalyst affects the reaction rate; cite and differentiate the types of catalysts

LECTURE:
Collision theory states that the rate of a chemical reaction is proportional to the number of collisions
between reactant molecules. The more often reactant molecules collide, the more often they react with one another,
and the faster the reaction rate. In reality, only a small fraction of the collisions are effective collisions. Effective
collisions are those that result in a chemical reaction.

In order to produce an effective collision, reactant particles must possess some minimum amount of energy.
This energy, used to initiate the reaction, is called the activation energy. For every sample of reactant particle there
will be some that possess this amount of energy. The larger the sample, the greater the number of effective
collisions, and the faster the rate of reaction. The number of particles possessing enough energy is dependent on the
temperature of the reactants. If reactant particles do not possess the required activation energy when they collide,
they bounce off each other without reacting. Particles must be able to get over the "bump"—the activation energy
—if they are going to react. If the reactant particles collide with less than the activation energy, the particles will
rebound (bounce off of each other), and no reaction will occur.

Some chemical reactions also require that the reactant particles must be in a proper orientation to produce
an effective collision. Unless the reactant particles possess this orientation when they collide, the collision will not
be an effective one.

To summarize, the requirements for an effective collision (for a chemical reaction to occur):
1. The reactants must collide with each other.
2. The molecules must have sufficient activation energy to initiate the reaction.
3. The molecules must have the proper orientation.
ACTIVITY 4
A. Directions: Analyze the illustrations below then identify if the illustration in each number shows an Effective or
an Ineffective Collision. Explain your answer briefly.
1.

A B A
A B B

B
B A A
A B

2.
A
A A A A B

B B B B
A

3. A
A
A A
A A

B B
B B
B B

B. Directions: Answer the following questions briefly. Refer to the pictures to answer what is asked in each
number.

1. Analyze the picture below. If the hill represents the activation energy and the ball represents the particles, what do
you think is the role of activation energy in the success or the failure of a chemical reaction?

2. Compare and analyze the two pictures below and discuss how the reaction rate is affected by a catalyst.

Uncatalyzed Catalyzed