Kinetics

• What is required for a chemical reaction to occur successfully according to collision theory?

  Collisions must have energy greater than or equal to the activation energy and correct particle orientation.
• How do reaction conditions impact the rate of a chemical reaction?

  They can be altered to provide particles with more energy, increasing the likelihood of effective collisions.
• What is the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution?

  • A pattern showing the distribution of energies among molecules in a substance.
  • Not all molecules have the same energy.
  • The total area under the curve represents the total number of molecules.

  
• What happens to the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution when reaction conditions change?

  The shape of the curve alters, affecting the number of particles with energy greater than the activation energy.

  
• What occurs to the molecules of a substance when it is heated?

  Thermal energy is converted to kinetic energy, causing molecules to move faster and further.

  
• How does increasing temperature affect the rate of reaction?

  It increases the rate of reaction as more collisions occur with energy greater than the activation energy.

  
• What happens to the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution at increased temperatures?

  It shifts to the right, resulting in a greater proportion of molecules having energy greater than or equal to the activation energy.

  
• What effect does increasing concentration have on molecular collisions?

  It makes collisions more likely as more molecules are packed closer together.
• How does increasing pressure affect the rate of reaction?

  It packs molecules closer together, increasing the likelihood of collisions with sufficient energy.
• What is a catalyst?

  A catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of reaction without being consumed in the process.
• How does a catalyst affect the activation energy of a reaction?

  It provides an alternative reaction path that requires a lower activation energy.

  
• What happens to the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution curve when a catalyst is used?

  The shape of the curve remains unchanged, but the position of the activation energy shifts to the left.

  
• What is activation energy?

  Activation energy is the minimum energy required for a chemical reaction to occur.
• How does thermal energy relate to kinetic energy in a heated substance?

  Thermal energy is converted to kinetic energy, increasing molecular movement.

  
• Why is particle orientation important in collision theory?

  Correct particle orientation is necessary for successful collisions that lead to reactions.