Chapter 13: Reaction Rates and Equilibrium Flashcards
collision theory
chemical reactions are due to collisions of molecules
reacting molecules must collide with sufficient energy to
break bonds
molecules must collide in an orientation that can lead to
rearrangement of the atoms
reaction rate
a measure of how fast a reaction occurs
the reaction rate is measured by
an increase in the [products] or a decrease in the [reactants] over time
the reaction rate depends on
[reactants], temperature, and activation energy
increasing the concentration of reactants
increases the frequency of collisions between molecules because there are more molecules present in a given volume, leading to a higher chance of interactions and potential reactions
increasing the temperature
increases the rate of a reaction because molecules collide more frequently and more forcefully, making the molecules more likely to rearrange
reaction profile
a diagram showing the progress of a reaction
activation energy (Ea)
the minimum amount of kinetic energy that must be supplied to start a chemical reaction; Ea = Ets - Ereactants
low barrier (activation energy)
energy required to react is low & high proportion of molecules may have sufficient energy to react = fast rxn
high barrier (activation energy)
activation energy is high & only a few molecules will have sufficient energy to react = slow rxn
transition state
the highest-energy arrangement of atoms in a chemical reaction
net energy change (△E)
E products - E reactants; negative value is exothermic (products are lower in energy, stable) & positive value is endothermic (products are higher in energy, higher potential energy)
catalyst
a substance that is not consumed in a rxn, but whose presence increases the rate of a rxn
a catalyst increases the rate of a rxn by
lowering the activation energy - more particles will have enough energy for the rxn to occur