COLLISION THEORY

• Explains rxn rates on the molecular level. It says:

• Molecules have energy
• Because of this energy, they are constantly moving
• As these molecules move, they collide into each other
• If the collisions are successful, the reactant molecules will rearrange and
form products 1
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 COLLISION THEORY
What is needed for a successful collision?

-To collide with sufficient energy (Activation Energy--Ea) to

cause them to rearrange
-Align themselves so they collide at the correct angle (have
the correct collision geometry)

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 COLLISION THEORY

• Not a Successful Collision • A Successful Collision

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 COLLISION THEORY

First let’s talk about Activation Energy

There are 2 types of graphs used to explain Activation Energy:
A. Kinetic Energy Distributions (Maxwell-Boltzman
Distributions)
B. Potential Energy Diagrams
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 KINETIC ENERGY AND TEMPERATURE

• Particles in a substance move randomly as a result of the kinetic

energy they possess.

• Due to random nature of movements and collisions, not all

particles in a substance have the same values of kinetic energy,
but instead a range of values.
 MAXWELL-BOLTZMAN
DISTRIBUTION CURVE
Look at the axes of the graph measuring the kinetic energy of particles in a substance.
Notice the Kinetic Energy of the molecules varies in the same substance.

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 MAXWELL-BOLTZMAN DISTRIBUTION

When the temperature is increased, note what happens to the curve

Lower Temperature (T1)

Higher Temperature (T2)

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 MAXWELL-BOLTZMAN DISTRIBUTION

• NOTICE:
• -That at the higher temperature, there are less slow (low KE) molecules
and more fast (high KE) molecules
• -That the curve is more spread out at the higher temperature.
• -The TOTAL AREA UNDER THE CURVE is the same for the high
temperature as for the low temperature (just means the # of mc are the
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same at both temps)

 MAXWELL-BOLTZMAN DISTRIBUTION

• Activation Energy
the minimum energy colliding particles must have in order to
have a “successful” collision (ie. one that results in a
reaction.)
Activation Energy is abbreviated as Ea
• Different reactions will have different Ea values
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 MAXWELL-BOLTZMAN DISTRIBUTION
• Let’s say the Activation energy for these reactant molecules is here

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MAXWELL-BOLTZMAN DISTRIBUTION
• If we increase the temp, notice the size of the area of the
shaded region

At higher temp., a greater fraction 12

molecules have sufficient energy to

overcome the activation energy barrier
 MAXWELL-BOLTZMAN DISTRIBUTION
If the temperature is increased by 10oC reaction rate will about double.
(ie. about twice the number of molecules have sufficient KE for a successful collision.)

If the Activation energy is lower, then more molecules will have sufficient energy to
overcome the activation energy barrier and thus the rate is faster. See below

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 COLLISION THEORY

• Collision Theory Video

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyznsEFOopg

• Do p. 19 and 20 # 29-32 from Hebden

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READ AND WATCH

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READ AND WATCH

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 POTENTIAL ENERGY DIAGRAMS
• as colliding molecules approach, the repulsion from the electron clouds
slows them down so kinetic energy decreases.
• as the clouds repel and change shape, they push against the repulsive force
potential energy increases
(like compressing a spring or two balloon squished together)
• So Kinetic Energy is converted to Potential Energy
• KE + PE = Total E (stays constant) As one goes up, the other must go down
• At the max point of PE, you get a temporary, unstable molecule called an
Activated Complex 17
H2 (BLUE) + O2 (RED) H2O

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POTENTIAL ENERGY DIAGRAMS

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POTENTIAL ENERGY DIAGRAMS

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 ACTIVATION ENERGY AND
REACTION
• Only collisions with enough energy to overcome the Ea ‘hill’ can form
products
 POTENTIAL ENERGY DIAGRAMS
You can read
potential energy
diagrams and find the
Ea.
In this case it is 35kJ
*Note you find Ea by
subtracting reactants
energy from the
‘top of the hill’
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 FINDING EA AND H FROM PE DIAGRAMS

Ea = 85-50= 35kJ H = products – reactants 23

= 10
 TRY THIS
QUESTION

•Ea = 170 – 100 = 70kJ

•H = products – reactants
•
20 – 100 = -80kJ
Exothermic

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 SAME RXN BUT REVERSE
REACTION

In the reverse rxn, products are reactants and vice versa.

Ea (reverse rx.) = 170 – 20 = 150kJ
H (reverse rx. ) = prod and rxts switched in reverse so (100 –
25

20= +80kJ) Endothermic

 POTENTIAL ENERGY DIAGRAMS

• NOTE: The Activation Energy (Ea) is fixed by the nature of the reactants
(#’s and strengths of bonds in reactants, will discuss later)
• This is why some reactions are fast and others are slow
• Ea is NOT affected by temperature or concentration changes
• Only a catalyst can change Ea (later)

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 POTENTIAL ENERGY DIAGRAMS

• Potential Energy Video

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48pySSbamIg

• Measurements from Potential Energy Diagrams

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48sLH9P8QK0
• Do p. 23 #34-37 and #41-45 on p. 25

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 COLLISION GEOMETRY
• So collision theory says molecules must collide with enough energy to
overcome the Ea AND collide with the right collision geometry
• EX: For the rxn A2 + B2 → 2AB:

• This happens to be an unfavorable alignment of the molecules so the reaction

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will not occur unless huge amounts of energy is supplied (high Ea needed)
 COLLISION GEOMETRY
• This happens to be a more favorable alignment. Will form products with less Ea

• Lower Ea needed in this alignment

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 COLLISION THEORY SUMMARY

• For any successful collision (one resulting in a reaction) there

are 3 Requirements:
• 1.) particles must collide
• 2.) they must collide with energy > Ea
• 3.) they need to have correct alignment (collision geometry)
(to keep Ea as low as possible) 30