Include the concept of collision theory. What does collision theory say about the rate of a reaction? Discuss the collisions that must occur for the MRE flameless heater to work.
Collision theory states that for a chemical reaction to occur, the reacting particles must collide with each other with sufficient energy and in the correct orientation. The rate of a reaction depends on the frequency of collisions between the reacting particles.
In the case of the MRE flameless heater, the reaction that takes place is a chemical reaction between water and a mixture of salts in the heater pouch. When the pouch is activated by adding a small amount of water, the salts react exothermically and produce heat, which is used to heat up the food pouches in the MRE meals.
For this reaction to occur, the water molecules in the pouch must collide with the salt particles with enough energy to break the bonds between them and form new products. The correct orientation of the molecules is also important in ensuring that the reaction proceeds efficiently.
Overall, collision theory plays a crucial role in the effectiveness of the MRE flameless heater, as it ensures that the necessary collisions occur for the reaction to generate enough heat to warm up the food.