Collision theory states that for a chemical reaction to occur, the reacting particles must collide with one another. The rate of the reaction depends on the frequency of collisions. The theory also tells us that reacting particles often collide without reacting. What 2 things must occur for the collision of the reactants molecules to be successful and the reactant particles react?
1. The collision must occur with sufficient energy: For a reaction to take place, the colliding particles must have enough energy to overcome the activation energy barrier. This energy is necessary to break the existing bonds between the particles and form new bonds to create the product molecules.
2. The collision must occur with the correct orientation: In addition to having enough energy, the colliding particles must also have the correct orientation. This means that the molecules must collide in a way that allows the reactive sites to come into contact with each other. If the molecules collide in the wrong orientation, the reaction will not proceed.