Collision theory
I can explain why increasing pressure, surface area or concentration increases the frequency of collisions between particles and therefore the rate of reaction.
- Year 10
- Edexcel
Collision theory
I can explain why increasing pressure, surface area or concentration increases the frequency of collisions between particles and therefore the rate of reaction.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Particles of reactants in a chemical reaction can react together if they collide with sufficient energy.
- Increasing surface area of a solid lets more reacting particles in a solution collide with its particles each second.
- Increasing concentration of a reacting solution introduces more reactant particles, so they collide more frequently.
- Increasing temperature of reactants increases the speed of particles, so they collide more frequently.
- Increasing pressure of reacting gases pushes reactant particles closer together, so they collide more frequently.
Keywords
Collision theory - The collision theory is that particles must collide, and with sufficient energy, in order to react.
Activation energy - The minimum energy that the particles must have in order to react is known as the activation energy.
Rate of reaction - Rate of reaction is the speed with which a chemical reaction takes place, measured by the amount of a reactant used or amount of product formed in a given time.
Common misconception
That every collision between reactant particles results in a chemical reaction.
The slide deck addresses that not every collision between reactant particles results in a chemical reaction. The particles must collide with the activation energy in order for the collision to be successful and a new product be formed.
Equipment
None required.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In the following reaction identify the reactant: hydrogen peroxide → water + oxygen
Q2.Which solution has the highest concentration?
Q3.Which of the following statements about rate of reaction are true?
Q4.A student has 5 g of calcium carbonate. How can they increase the surface area of the calcium carbonate?
Q5.On a volume versus time graph, what does a steep gradient represent?
Q6.Match the key term to the correct definition.
