Collision Theory
(i) The basic requirement for a reaction to occur is that the reacting species must collide with one another. This is the basis of collision theory for reactions.
(ii) The number of collisions that takes place per second per unit volume of the reaction mixture is known as collision frequency (Z). The value of collision frequency is very high of the order of 1025 to 1028 in case of binary collisions.
(iii) Every collision does not bring a chemical change. The collisions that actually produce the product are effective collisions.
The effective collisions, which bring chemical change, are few in comparison to the total number of collisions.
The collisions that do not form a product are ineffective elastic collisions, i.e., molecules just collide and disperse in different directions with different velocities.
(iv) For a collision to be effective, the following two barriers are to be cleared,
(a) Energy barrier: “The minimum amount of energy which the colliding molecules must possess as to make the chemical reaction to occur, is known as threshold energy”.
• In the graph ‘E’ corresponds to minimum or threshold energy for effective collision.
• There is an energy barrier for each reaction. The reacting species must be provided with sufficient energy to cross the energy barrier.
(b) Orientation barrier: The colliding molecules should also have proper orientation so that the old bonds may break and new bonds are formed. For example
NO2(g) + NO2(g) → N2O4(g)
During this reaction, the products are formed only when the colliding molecules have proper orientation at the time of collisions. These are called Effective Collisions.
(v) Thus, the main points of collision theory are as follows,
(a) For a reaction to occur, there must be collisions between the reacting species.
(b) Only a certain fraction of the total number of collisions is effective in forming the products.
(c) For effective collisions, the molecules should possess sufficient energy as well as orientation.
(vi) The fraction of effective collisions, under ordinary conditions may vary from nearly zero to about one for ordinary reactions. Thus, the rate of reaction is proportional to:
(a) The number of collisions per unit volume per second (Collision frequency, Z) between the reacting species
(b) The fraction of effective collisions (Properly oriented and possessing sufficient energy), f i.e.,
Where f is fraction of effective collision and Z is the collision frequency.
(vii) The physical meaning of the activation energy is that it is the minimum relative kinetic energy which the reactant molecules must possess for changing into the products molecules during their collision. This means that the fraction of successful collision is equal to eEa/RT called Boltzmann factor.
(viii) It may be noted that besides the requirement of sufficient energy, the molecules must be properly oriented in space also for a collision to be successful. Thus, if AB Z is the collision frequency, P is the orientation factor (Steric factor) then, k = PZAB .e-Ea/RT .
If we compare this equation with Arrhenius equation.
k = A e-Ea/RT
We know that pre-exponential form ‘A’ in Arrhenius equation is,
A = PZAB.
Concept of activation energy
The excess energy (Over and above the average energy of the reactants) which must be supplied to the reactants to undergo chemical reactions is called activation energy (Ea),
Activation energy = Threshold energy – Average kinetic energy of the reacting molecules.
(a) Zero activation energy = Fraction of effective collision (f) will be very large = Very fast reaction (Instantaneous reaction).
(b) Low activation energies = Fraction of effective collision (f) will be large = Fast reactions.
(c) High activation energies = Fraction of effective collision (f) will be small = Slow reaction.
The activation energy (Ea) depends upon the nature of chemical bonds undergoing rupture and is independent of enthalpies of reactants and products.
According to the concept of activation energy, the reactants do not change directly into the products. The reactant first absorb energy equal to activation energy and form activated complex. At this state, the molecules must have energy at least equal to the threshold energy.
This means that the reaction involves some energy barrier which must be overcome before products are formed. The energy barrier is known as activation energy barrier.
(2) Transition state theory
(i) According to transition state theory the activated complex is supposed to be in equilibrium with the reactant molecules.
(ii) Once the transition state is formed it can either return to the initial reactants or proceeds to form the products.
(iii) Assuming that once formed the transition state proceeds to products we can say that rate is proportional to concentration of transition state.
