A model for chemical reactions

For a reactant to occur:

1. Reactant molecules must collide;
2. Molecular collisions must occur with proper orientations;
3. Collisions must be energetic and lead to the formation of the transition-state complex;
4. The rate of formation of the transition-state complex is the rate determining step;
5. The transition-state complex eventually leads to the formation of products.
A model for reaction kinetics
- All chemical reactions proceed through a transition-state complex;
- An energy barrier called activation energy (Ea) must be overcome to change reactants to the
transition-state.
- The rate of formation of transition-state is the rate-determining step for the overall reaction;
- The rate of formation of transition-state is dependent:
o On the frequency of effective molecular collisions, which depends on the reactants
concentrations;
o On the fraction of molecules with sufficient kinetic energy to overcome the energy
barrier, and
o On the reaction temperature.
Dependence of rate on temperature
- Rate depends on the fraction of “effective collisions” per unit time.
o Effective collisions are those with proper orientation and sufficient energy to overcome
activation energy Ea […]
Relationships between rate, rate constant, activation energy, and temperature.
- Rate is dependent on rate constant, which is the proportionality constant that relates rate to
concentrations (as depicted in the rate law).
- While rate constant is related to activation energy and temperature by the Arrhenius equation
(empirical)
−𝐸
𝑘 = 𝐴𝑒𝑥𝑝 ( 𝑎⁄𝑅𝑇)
o Where A is Arrhenius collisional frequency factor, T is the Kelvin temperature, and R is
gas constant (R = 8.314 J/K.mol)