Maxwell Boltzman Distribution curves

Question 1

What is on y and x axis of these graphs?

Answer 1

• y: number of molecules
• x: kinetic energy.

Question 2

What is the activation energy represented as on this graph?

Answer 2

“Ea” on x axis.

Question 3

What does the area under a maxwell boltzman curve show?

Answer 3

• Shows the total no of particles

Question 4

What does part under curve after point of Ea on x axis show?

Answer 4

• Shows number of particles with energy greater than activation energy.

Question 5

Explain what happens to maxwell boltzman distribution curve when there is a temp increase.

Answer 5

• The curve moves to the right and is flatter.
• Moves to right because “most probale energy” increases to a larger value.
• Flatter: area under graph must remain same as we have the same no of particles ie. peaks lower than normal curve.
• More particles have energy > than activation energy (there is a greater area under graph after point Ea on x axis.)

Question 6

What does maxwell boltzman curve of slight increase in temperature relative to MBC at room temperature show?

Answer 6

• Shows that a small temperature increase leads to a large increase in rate because a lot more molecules have energy greater than the activation energy.

Question 7

Explain what happens to maxwell boltzman distribution curve when there is a temp decrease.

Answer 7

• The curve moves to the left and is steeper.
• Moves to the left because “most probale energy” decreases to a lower value.
• Steeper: area under graph must remain same as we have same no of particles ie peaks higher than normal curve.
• Less particles have enery greater than activation energy (there is a smaller area under graph after point Ea on x axis.)

Question 8

What does maxwell boltzman curve of slight decrease in temperature relative to MBC at room temperature show?

Answer 8

• Shows that small temperature decrease leads to a large decrease in the rate because a lot less molecules have energy greater than the activation energy.

Question 9

Explain what happens to maxwell boltzman distribution curve when a catalyst is added.

Answer 9

• The Ea (marked on x axis) will be lower/ shift to left.
• The catalyst lowers the activation energy so more particles have enough enery to react (greater area under graph- after Ea point on x axis- with catalyst vs without catalyst.)

Question 10

What matter of state are we looking at in ALL Maxwell Boltzman distribution curves?

Answer 10

• Gases

Question 11

What do Maxwell Boltzman distribution curves show?

Answer 11

• Shows the energy of all molecules in a gas.