1. CHEM 3310
Chemical Kinetics Collision Theory
&
Transition State Theory

2. The rate of reaction is markedly affected by temperature.
“k versus T”
Two theories were developed
to explain the temperature effects.
Collision Theory
Transition State Theory
CHEM 3310

3. What is happening at the molecular level?
Take the destruction of ozone in the stratosphere.
2 O3 (g)  3 O2 (g) Cl
Watch animation (
What is happening at the molecular level?
Go back to the basics!
CHEM 3310

4. 2 O3 (g)  3 O2 (g) CHEM 3310 Cl CFC: chlorofluorocarbons
UV radiation strikes a CFC molecule …
… causing a chlorine
atom to break away …
… the chlorine
atom collides with an O3 molecule …
CFC: chlorofluorocarbons
… forms chlorine
monoxide and frees an O2 molecule …
… a free oxygen atom collides with the chlorine monoxide molecule…
… the two oxygen atoms join and release the chlorine atom …
… the free chlorine atom is free to destroy more O3 molecules.
CHEM 3310

5. The anatomy of a chemical reaction:
Take the destruction of ozone.
2 O3 (g)  3 O2 (g) Cl
The anatomy of a chemical reaction:
1. Molecules must interact. Think collisions!  Collisions must occur.
2. The more molecules in a confined space, the more likely collisions will occur. Think probability!  Rate is proportional to concentrations of the reactants.
When O3 and Cl collide and react, the rate of the reaction
will be proportional to the product of the [O3 ] and [Cl].
CHEM 3310

6. The anatomy of a chemical reaction:
Take the destruction of ozone.
2 O3 (g)  3 O2 (g) Cl
The anatomy of a chemical reaction:
3. Collisions must occur at the right place.
Think orientation!  If the Cl atom approaches the center O atom of the O3 molecule, that O atom will not transfer.
CHEM 3310

7. This takes us to the Collision Theory & Transition State Theory.
Take the destruction of ozone.
2 O3 (g)  3 O2 (g) Cl
The anatomy of a chemical reaction:
4. Bonds are broken and new bonds are formed. Think energy!  At the time of collision, bonds are stretched and broken as new bonds are made. Breaking these bonds and rearranging the atoms during the collision requires the input of energy.
This takes us to the Collision Theory & Transition State Theory.
CHEM 3310

8. We will expand on these postulates in the following slides.
Collision Theory
Collision Theory is based on three postulates:
Chemical reactions in the gas phase are due to the collision of the reactant particles.
A collision only results in a reaction if a certain threshold energy is exceeded.
3. A collision only results in a reaction if the colliding particles are
correctly oriented to one another.
We will expand on these postulates in the following slides.
CHEM 3310

9. Collision Theory
Chemical reactions result from collisions of the reactant particles.
This makes sense!
CHEM 3310

10. In reality, at room temperature, this reaction proceeds very slowly.
Collision Theory
Example: H2 (g) + I2 (g)  2 HI (g)
At room temperature and pressure collisions per second If every collision results in the formation of HI, the reaction would be over in much less than a second!
In reality, at room temperature, this reaction proceeds very slowly.
About one in 1013 collisions produces a reaction. How do we explain this?
CHEM 3310

11. Collision Theory
2. A collision only results in a reaction if a certain threshold energy is exceeded.
REVIEW: To describe a collection of gases that is randomly moving about with a range of speed, we use a DISTRIBUTION function.
They are known as the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution of speeds.
The distributions of molecular speeds of CO2 molecules at three different temperatures.
As the molar mass decreases, the fraction of the molecules moving at higher speed increases.
CHEM 3310

12. Collision Theory
2. A collision only results in a reaction if a certain threshold energy is exceeded.
At lower temperatures, molecular velocity are lower.
At higher temperatures, more molecules move with the higher velocity.
The shaded area represents
the number of molecules
traveling fast enough to
collide with sufficient energy
to react.
The area for the ‘Higher temperature curve’ is bigger.
CHEM 3310

13. Collision Theory Activation Energy
2. A collision only results in a reaction if a certain threshold energy is exceeded.
Activation Energy
Reaction MUST overcome
an energy threshold called
the ACTIVATION ENERGY
or activation barrier.
Only faster moving molecules
will collide with sufficient kinetic energy to overcome the activation barrier.
is proportional to the fraction of the molecules present in a gas which have energies equal to or in excess of a activation energy at a particular temperature.
CHEM 3310

14. Collision Theory
2. A collision only results in a reaction if a certain threshold energy is exceeded.
Is proportional to the fraction of the molecules present in a gas which have energies equal to or in excess of activation energy at a particular temperature.
Assume a reaction has an activation energy of 50 kJ mol-1
At 20°C (293 K) the value of the fraction is:
Raise the temperature by 10°C (ie 303 K) the value of the fraction is:
At around room temperature, by increasing the temperature by 10°C, the fraction of the molecules able to react has almost doubled. As a result, this causes the rate of reaction to almost double.
CHEM 3310

15. Orientation or Steric Factor
Collision Theory
3. A collision only results in a reaction if the colliding particles are correctly oriented to one another.
Orientation or Steric Factor
View animation
K CH3I  KI CH3 
This is the correct orientation of K and CH3I that will lead to the formation of the products.
Flash animation:
CHEM 3310

16. Collision Theory Example: CO (g) + NO2 (g)  NO (g) + CO2 (g)
Above 600K, the reaction proceeds by the collision between CO and NO2.
Only effective collision will lead to formation of products.
Experimentally,
Rate = k [CO] [NO2]
CHEM 3310

17. Frequency Factor, A, in Arrhenius Equation
3. A collision only results in a reaction if the colliding particles are correctly oriented to one another.
Frequency Factor, A, in Arrhenius Equation
A is a constant that indicates how many collisions have the correct orientation that could lead to the formation of products.
The units of the A are identical to those of the rate constant. (eg – For first order reaction, A has the units of s−1, is of the order of 1013 s-1)
CHEM 3310

18. Collision Theory Orientation or Steric Factor
3. A collision only results in a reaction if the colliding particles are correctly oriented to one another.
Orientation or Steric Factor
O (g) + N2O (g)  N2 (g) + O2 (g)
Oxygen collides with the nitrogen end of N2O will result in NO REACTION.
Oxygen collides with the oxygen end of N2O will result in producing the products.
Activated complex forms in the
reaction mixture.
CHEM 3310

19. Transition State Theory
To progress from reactants to products, the molecules must collide with enough energy to pass over the activation barrier.
As bond rearrangement occurs, an unstable intermediate species, called an activated complex, exists in the reaction mixture.
PE  KE
Transition State
PE  KE 
Reaction
Coordinate
diagram
Macroscopic measurements of Ea and k are the result of many individual collisions. As Ea increases, k decreases.
CHEM 3310

20. Transition State Theory
The energy difference between
the reactants and the high point
of the diagram is the activation
energy barrier.
Ea , activation energy, is the minimum amount of energy required for the reaction to occur.
Reaction energy, is the energy difference between the
products and the reactants.
Activation energy is of the order of kJ/mole.
The Reaction Coordinate diagram shows the energy profile of an exothermic reaction since
P.E. of the products < P.E. of the reactants
CHEM 3310

21. Transition State Theory
The energy difference between
the reactants and the high point
of the diagram is the activation
energy barrier.
Ea , activation energy, is the minimum amount of energy required for the reaction to occur.
Reaction energy, is the energy difference between the
products and the reactants.
This diagram shows the energy profile of an endothermic reaction since
P.E. of the products > P.E. of the reactants
An endothermic reaction always has Ea greater than the exothermic direction and hence a slower rate.
CHEM 3310

22. CO (g) + NO2 (g)  NO (g) + CO2 (g)
Transition State Theory
Example:
CO (g) + NO2 (g)  NO (g) + CO2 (g)
Above 600K, the reaction proceeds by the collision between CO and NO2.
Reactants
Activated complex
Products
CHEM 3310

23. Product is favoured for this exothermic reaction.
Transition State Theory
For an equilibrium (reversible) reaction
In this example,
Eareverse > Eaforward
kforward > kreverse Therefore, Keq > 1
Product is favoured for this exothermic reaction.
CHEM 3310

24. Summary The Collision Theory The Transition State Theory
Assumes a collision between reactants needs to happen before a reaction can take place.
the majority of collisions do not lead to a reaction, but only those in which the colliding species have:
 A kinetic energy greater than a certain minimum called the activation energy, Ea
The correct spacial orientation with respect to each other.
During a reaction, an increase in potential energy corresponds to an energy barrier over which the reactant molecules must pass if the reaction is to proceed.
The transition state occurs at the maximum of this energy barrier.
The energy difference between the reactants and the potential energy maximum is referred to as the activation energy.
The energy difference between the potential energy of the products and reactants is referred to as the reaction energy.
CHEM 3310

25. Summary – Arrhenius Equation
k is essentially a probability that a collision between reactants will lead to products.
k can vary with temperature and pressure.
CHEM 3310