Structure & Reactions Flashcards
Examples of slow everyday reactions
- Milk going sour
- Iron rusting
- Bread going mouldy
Examples of fast everyday reactions
- Fireworks
- Popcorn
- Starting a car
How do you increase the rate of reaction ~ collision theory
DECREASE particle size
INCREASE concentration
INCREASE temperature
ADD a suitable catalyst
What is needed for a chemical reaction to occur?
- The reacting particles must collide together
- Collisions must have sufficient energy to overcome the energy barrier
- The reacting particles must have the correct collision geometry
Why does decreasing particle size speed up a reaction?
The smaller the particle size, the larger the surface area.
The more surfaces there are, the more collisions can take place, therefore increasing the reaction rate
Why does increasing concentration speed up the rate of reaction?
The higher the concentration, the higher the no.of molecules there are present and available for collisions.
Therefore collisions occur more frequently and the reaction goes faster
Why does increasing temperature speed up the rate of reaction?
At higher temperatures more particles have beget equal to the activation energy.
The activation energy is the amount of energy required for a successful collision to take place.
Therefore more successful collisions take place and the reaction goes faster
Why do catalysts speed up reaction rate?
They lower the activation energy.
That is they reduce the amount of energy particles need in order to achieve successful collisions.
Therefore successful collisions occur more easily, more frequently, and the reaction goes faster.
Formula for average rate of reaction
Average rate = change in quantity/ change in time
Formula for relative rate of reaction
Rate = 1/t
What is enthalpy (H)
A measure of the energy stored in a chemical
What is an exothermic reaction?
A reaction in which heat is given off/ lost
What is an endothermic reaction?
A reaction in which chemicals absorb energy/ gain energy
What is a reaction profile?
Diagrams showing the difference in the enthalpy the reactants have at the start compared with the enthalpy the products have at the end
Formula for enthalpy change
Hproducts- Hreactants
What are the units for enthalpy change?
kJmol-1
What is activation energy (Ea)?
The minimum kinetic energy that colliding molecules must have in order for a reaction to occur
What is an activated complex?
An unstable intermediate in which old bonds are partially broken and new bonds are partially formed
Eg. The reaction between hydrogen and bromine
Why do reacting particles need the correct collision geometry to collide successfully?
If particles do not collide with the correct collision geometry the activated complex cannot form
What is temperature?
Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance
What is an energy distribution diagram?
Diagrams which show the effect that temperature has on the number of successful collisions and hence reaction rate
Where on an energy distribution diagram can the particles with sufficient energy for successful collision be found?
On the right side of the activation energy line
What difference does a small increase in temperature make to the number of particles which have energy equal to or greater than the required Ea?
It increases the no.of particles which have energy equal to or greater than the Ea
What effect does a small increase in temperature have on the no.of successful collisions?
It increases the no.of successful collisions as more particles have the required activation energy