5.2- THE MAXWELL-BOLTZMANN DISTRIBUTION Flashcards
How are the particles in a gas (or solution) all moving?
at different speeds- few moving slowly, few very fast but most somewhere in the middle
What does the energy of particle depend on?
its speed so particles also have range of energies
What is the curve formed when plotting graph of energy against fraction of particles that have energy called?
Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution
What does the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution tell us about?
distribution of energy amongst the particles
Do some particles have zero energy? (Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution)
no particles have zero energy
What is the energy of most particles like? (Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution)
most particles have intermediate energies- around peak of curve
What is the energy of a few of the particles like? (Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution)
few have very high energies (right hand side of curve) no upper limit
Is the average energy the same as the probable energy?
no
What does the area of the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution graph to the right of the activation energy line represent?
number of particles with enough energy to react
What does the need for the activation energy to present before a reaction happens explain?
why not all reactions that are exothermic occur spontaneously at room temp
What temperature are fuels mostly safe at?
at room temp, as in petrol station
What may a small spark provide for a fuel?
may provide enough energy to start combustion reaction
What is the heat given out by the initial reaction from a spark to fuel enough to do?
enough to supply activation energy for further reactions
How does a match work?
chemicals in match quite stable until activation energy provided by friction
What does the shape of the Maxwell-Boltzmann graph change with?
changes with temp
