Factors affecting rate of reaction

Question 1

What is collision theory?

Answer 1

• For a chemical reaction to take place, reactant particles must collide with eachother with sufficient energy

Question 2

What is activation energy?

Answer 2

• The minimum amount of energy required for reactant particles to react
• The minimum amount of energy required for a reaction to take place

Question 3

What two things is the rate of reaction dependent on?

Answer 3

• Amount of energy the particles have: more energy the particles can transfer, the more particles will overcome the activation energy
• Amount of collisions that take place (frequency of collision): not all particles meet the activation energy therefore, the more frequent collisions there are, the more succesful collisions there will be

Question 4

How does temperature effect the rate of reaction?

Answer 4

• Higher temperature = particles have more energy
• More energy = more particles overcome the activation energy = more successful collisions
• More energy = particles move faster more frequent collisions = more successful collisions
• Higher temperature = higher rate of reaction

Question 5

How does concentration / pressure effect rate of reaction?

Answer 5

• Refers to amount of particles per given volume
• More particles per given volume = more frequent collisions = more successful collisions = higher rate of reaction

Question 6

How does surface area effect the rate of reaction?

Answer 6

• Higher surface area to volume ratio = more frequent collisions = more successful collisions = higher rate of reaction

Question 7

How does a catalyst effect the rate of reaction?

Answer 7

• Provides an alternative reaction pathway with a lower activation energy
• More particles overcome the lower activation energy = more successful collisions = higher rate of reaction