Collision theory

Factor Reason

FOC

FOEC

Free of
charge
Factor
Reason

Size of reactant
Total surface area
of particles
exposed to
collision

Concentration
Number of H+ /
S2O32- /
particles per
unit volume
increases

Frequency of
collision
between
particles
(FOC)
Frequency of
effective
collision
between
particles
(FOEC)
Rate of
reaction
(ROR)
Description
Reaction that
involves ionic
compound and
acid

Reaction that
involves metal
and acid

ROR

Free of extra charge

Temperature
Kinetic energy
of particles

Pressure
Number of
particles per
unit volume
increases

Presence of catalyst
Provide an alternative
pathway which require
lower activation energy

Increases

Increases

Increases

Reaction
a) Calcium carbonate and hydrochloric
acid

Named Particles
(Anion of the ionic compound +

CaCO3 + 2HCl CaCl2 + H2O + CO2

b) Sodium thiosulphate and sulphuric
acid

H+

Na2S2O3 + H2SO4 Na2SO4 + S +

SO2 + H2O
a) Zinc and hydrochloric acid

Zn

+ 2HCl ZnCl2 + H2
b) Magnesium and sulphuric acid

Mg

H2SO4 MgSO4 + H2

Carbonate ion ,

H +)

CO32- & Hydrogen ion ,

Thiosulphate ion,

S2O32- & Hydrogen

ion , H
(atom + H+ )
+

Zinc atom ,

Zn

atom & Hydrogen ion,

Magnesium atom ,

Mg

atom & Hydrogen

Decomposition of hydrogen peroxide

ion, H
(molecule)

2H2O2 H2O + O2

Hydrogen peroxide molecule,

Reaction that
involves
molecules

H2O2

Compare the rate of reaction for these two experiments by using the Collision theory
Set 1 : 1g of calcium carbonate granules (excess) reacts with 50cm3 of 0.1 mol dm-3 hydrochloric acid
Set 2 : 1g of calcium caronate powder (excess) reacts with 50cm3 of 0.1 mol dm-3 hydrochloric acid

Size of calcium
carbonate
Total surface area of
CO32- exposed to
collision
Frequency of collision
between CO32- and H+
Frequency of effective
collision between CO32and H+
Rate of reaction

Set 1
Bigger

Set 2
Smaller

Lower

Higher

Lower

Higher

Lower

Higher

Lower

Higher

H+

The size of calcium carbonate of Set 2 is

smalller than Set 1. Total surface area of
CO32- exposed to collision of Set 2 is
higher than set 1. The frequency of
collision between CO32- and H+ of Set 2
is higher than Set 1. The frequency of

effective collision between CO32- and

H+ of Set 2 is higher than Set 1. Rate of
reaction of Set 2 is higher than Set 1.
1

Set 1 : 1g of zinc plate (excess) reacts with 50cm3 of 0.1 mol dm-3 sulphuric acid
Set 2 : 1g of zinc powder (excess) reacts with 50cm3 of 0.1 mol dm-3 sulphuric acid

Size of Zinc plate

Total surface area of Zn
atom exposed to
collision
Frequency of collision
between Zn atom and
H+
Frequency of effective
collision between Zn
atom and H+
Rate of reaction

Set 1
Bigger
Lower

Set 2
Smaller
Higher

Lower

Higher

Lower

Higher

Lower

Higher

Set 1 : 1 g of calcium carbonate powder (excess) reacts with 500cm3 of 0.1 mol dm-3 sulphuric acid
Set 2 : 1 g of calcium carbonate powder (excess) reacts with 250cm3 of 0.2 mol dm-3 sulphuric acid

Concentration of H2SO4
Number of H+ per unit
volume
Frequency of collision
between and H+
Frequency of effective
collision between Zn
atom and H+
Rate of reaction

Set 1
lower
Lower

Set 2
higher
Higher

Lower

Higher

Lower

Higher

Lower

Higher

Set 1 : 1 g of zinc powder (excess) reacts with 100cm3 of 0.1 mol dm-3 sulphuric acid at room temperature
Set 2 : 1 g of zinc powder (excess) reacts with 50cm3 of 0.1 mol dm-3 sulphuric acid at 500C

Temperature of
reactants
Kinetic energy of Zn
atom and H+
Frequency of collision
between Zn atom and
H+
Frequency of effective
collision between Zn
atom and H+
Rate of reaction

Set 1
lower

Set 2
higher

Lower

Higher

Lower

Higher

Lower

Higher

Lower

Higher

Homework
Set 1 : 1 g of zinc powder (excess) reacts with 100cm3 hydrochloric acid 1.0 mol dm-3
Set 2 : 1 g of zinc powder (excess) reacts with 100cm3 hydrochloric acid 1.0 mol dm-3 and 2cm3 of 0.1 mol dm-3copper(II)
sulphate solution

Presence of CuSO4 as a catalyst

Presence of alternative pathway
which requires a lower activation
energy
Frequency of effective collision
between Zn atom and H+
Rate of reaction

Set 1
Absent
Absent

Set 2
Present
Present

Lower

Higher

Lower

Higher

The presence of copper(II) sulphate solution as a catalyst in set 2 will provide an alternative pathway that
requires a lower activation energy. The frequency of effective collision between Zn atom and H+ of Set 2 is
higher that Set 1. Rate of reaction of Set 2 is higher than Set 1