Lesson 9:

Chemical
Kinetics:
Reaction Rates
and Collision
Theory
 Most Essential Learning
Competency
1. Describe how various factors influence the rate of
a reaction (STEM_GC11CK-IIIi-j-130)
2. Differentiate zero, first-, and second-order
reactions (STEM_GC11CKIIIi-j-132)
3. Explain reactions qualitatively in terms of
molecular collisions (STEM_GC11CKIIIi-j-136)
4. Explain activation energy and how a catalyst
affects the reaction rate (STEM_GC11CKIIIi-j-137),
and
5. Cite and differentiate the types of catalysts
(STEM_GC11CKIIIi-j-138).
 Chemical Kinetics

Chemical kinetics is the area of chemistry concerned

with the speeds, or rates, at which a chemical
reaction occurs.

The word “kinetic” suggests movement or change.

Kinetics refers to the rate of a reaction, or the
reaction rate, which is the change in the
concentration of a reactant or a product with
time (M/s).
 Rate of Reaction

1. Recall certain reactions previously discussed

which occur at different rates.

Recall the previous lesson on heat changes (enthalpy

changes). State that neither the heat of reaction nor
the balanced equation can give any indication of how
fast a reaction will take place.
“Rate of reaction” as a measure of how fast a
reaction takes place. The rate of a reaction is often
expressed as a change in amount or concentration of
a substance (reactant or product) per unit time.
Chemical kinetics is the study of rates of reactions
and factors that affect them.
2. Why learners should be interested in studying
rates of reactions?
Answer:
Many chemical industries make use of chemical
reactions whose rates should be fast enough to be
economically viable but slow enough to allow some
control. Action of drugs or medicines is an important
consideration in medicine.
 Zero-order Reaction

• Let's say we have a reaction A -> B. For zero

order reactants, the rate at which the
reaction occurs is not affected by the
concentration of that reactant. So if [A] is
1.0M in one reaction but [A] is 2.0M in
another reaction, the rate at which the
reaction occurs will be the same for both
concentrations of A.

1-6
 First-order Reaction

• For first order reactants, the rate at which

the reaction occurs is related to the
concentration of the reactant to the first
power. So if [A] is 1.0M in one reaction and
2.0 M in another reaction, the rate at which
the reaction occurs in the reaction with
2.0M of A is double that of the rate of the
reaction with 1.0M of A. This is because the
concentration of A doubled, and 2 to the
first power is 2, so the rate increases by a
factor of 2.
1-7
 Second-order Reaction

• For second order reactants, the rate at

which the reaction occurs is related to the
concentration of the reactant to the second
power. So if [A] is 1.0M in one reaction and
2.0M in another reaction, the rate at which
the reaction occurs in the reaction with
2.0M of A is quadruple that of the rate of
the reaction with 1.0M of A. This is because
the concentration of A doubled, and 2 to the
second power is 4, so the rate increases by
a factor of 4.
1-8
3. Factors that affect rates of reactions
a. How long does it take an iron nail exposed to the
rain to rust?
b. Compare the rusting of iron to how fast milk
curdles when an acid like vinegar or calamansi juice
is added to it.
c. Which has a more rapid reaction, the burning of
liquid gasoline in air, or gasoline in a car engine that
is first vaporized, then mixed with air?
d. Do you think you could light a log with a single
matchstick?
e. How about twigs or smaller pieces of wood?
f. Baking powder or sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), is
used in baking to make cakes rise because the
carbon dioxide gas produced when baking powder
reacts with water in the cake batter. Compare the
volume of a cake prepared with the right amount of
baking powder, with that of just about half the
amount needed.
g. Why do we keep food in the refrigerator?
h. How do particles move at high temperatures
compared at low temperatures?
 Factors that Affect Rates of
Reactions
• Nature of reactants – state that substances vary
in their chemical reactivity. Chemical reactivity is a
major factor that determines the rate of a reaction.
Give examples of substances of varying chemical
reactivity and reactions where these are involved.

• Ability of reactants to meet - consider surface

area of contact, classification of reactions as
homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions
 Factors that Affect Rates of
Reactions
• Concentration of reactants - This could be
likened to a hallway with just a few learners to a
crowded hallway where they are likely to bump into
each other. Give an application of this i.e.,
prescription of medicines by doctors.

• Temperature of reaction system

• Presence of a catalyst
 Collision Theory

How would you explain the effects of the different

factors on reaction rates at the molecular level?

For a reaction to take place, reactant particles

must have activation energy or the minimum
amount of energy required and the right
orientation for effective collision to bring about a
chemical change.
• Can you give your
explanation on the basis of
Collision Theory how reaction
rates are affected by various
factors?
 Consider the following:

• Temperature – a plot of the fraction of molecules

having a kinetic energy at two different temperature
• The graph would show that at higher temperatures, the total
fraction of molecules having the required energy is greater
than that at lower temperatures. A greater number of
reactant molecules are more energetic at higher temperatures
than at lower temperatures, thereby making collisions more
effective for products to form.
• Concentration – The more number of reactant
molecules, the greater probability for effective
collisions to form products.

Compare these to scenarios where there are just two

or three learners in a hallway, and a crowded one.
Learners are more likely to bump into each other in
the crowded hallway than with just a few ones.
 Potential Energy Diagrams

What happens after reactant molecules collide?

Answer:
If a reaction occurs, during the collision, the particles
that separate are different from those that collide.
When the particles collide, the molecules slow down.
Thus, the total kinetic energy (K.E.) they possess
decreases. Because energy cannot disappear, this
means that the total potential energy (P.E.) of the
particles must increase.
The relationship between activation energy and total potential
energy of reactants and products may be expressed graphically
through a potential energy diagram.
The activation energy appears as a “hill,” which is referred as
the potential energy barrier between reactants and products.
Reactant particles must go over this hill, the minimum energy
required for a reaction to occur, to form the products
 Activation Energy

Activation energy is the minimum energy required

for the electron clouds and nuclei of reactant
particles to overcome the repulsions and form
bonds.
• Describe/define the activated complex or the transition state.
• Which portion of the potential energy diagram corresponds to the
heat of reaction, ΔHrxn?
• How does a catalyst increase the rate of a reaction?
• What is your idea about how a catalyst increases the rate of a
reaction?
The catalyst provides a path for the reaction with a lower
activation energy, wherein the catalyst participates in the
reaction by changing its mechanism.
 Different Types of Catalysts

On the basis of nature and the physical state

of the substance employed in the chemical
reaction, catalysis is of three types:
• Homogeneous catalysis
• Heterogeneous catalysis
 Homogeneous Catalysis

Homogeneous catalysis occurs when the reactants

and the catalyst are in the same phase. Some
examples of homogeneous catalysis are as follows:

In the lead chamber process, sulfur dioxide is

oxidized to sulfur trioxide with dioxygen in the
presence of nitrogen oxides as the catalyst. All of
the reactants, sulfur dioxide and oxygen, as well as
the catalyst, nitric oxide, are in the same phase.
 Homogeneous Catalysis

H+ ions supplied by hydrochloric acid catalyze the

hydrolysis of methyl acetate. The reactants and
catalyst are both in the same phase.
 Heterogeneous Catalysis

Heterogeneous catalysis refers to the catalytic

process in which the reactants and catalysts are
in different phases. The following are some
examples of heterogeneous catalysis:

• In the presence of Pt, sulfur dioxide is oxidized to

sulfur trioxide. The reactant is in a gaseous state,
while the catalyst is solid.
• In Haber’s process, dinitrogen and dihydrogen
combine to form ammonia in the presence of finely
divided iron. The reactants are in a gaseous state,
while the catalyst is solid.

• Hydrogenation of vegetable oils with finely divided

nickel as a catalyst. One of the reactants is in a
liquid state, the other is in a gaseous state, and the
catalyst is solid.