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3: Kinetics I
Return to AS and A2 Chemistry
As the temperature is raised the average energy of the molecules increases. The
proportion of molecules with the activation energy (see section under graph) is
greater at higher temperatures. A small increase in temperature gives a large
increase in reaction rate. Simulation of change in temperature requires Microsoft
Excel (source www.chemit.co.uk )
2.3 (d) Activation energy
Activation energy is a measure of the energy needed, when molecules collide, to lead
to a reaction. The lower the activation energy the more molecules at a particular
temperature will have enough energy to react when they collide. As the temperature
increases more molecules will have an amount of energy equal to or more than the
activation energy. At a high temperature more collisions therefore lead to reaction.
2.3 (e) Catalysts and activation energy
Catalysts alter the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the
reaction. (e.g. the catalyst may end up in the oxidation state it began with). A
catalyst reduces the activation energy for a reaction by providing an alternative
mechanism for the reaction.
Homogeneous catalysts can form intermediates which contain the catalyst but then
decompose to form products. For the reaction
A -----> B + C high activation energy
A + catalyst -----> A-catalyst low activation energy
A-catalyst -----> B + C + catalyst low activation energy
The catalyst may change oxidation state during the reaction see
http://www.wbateman.demon.co.uk/newsums/sum5.2/sum5.2.htm
Heterogeneous catalysts such as surface catalysts involve steps such as; diffusion to
surface, adsorption on surface, reaction at surface, deadsorption from surface,
diffusion from surface.
If two reactant molecules collide they may react if they have enough energy. If they
are brought together on the surface of a catalyst the activation energy may be lower
so at a given temperature the reaction will be faster.
The reaction profile for a catalysed and an uncatalysed reaction is shown below.