Through discussions, demonstrations, and lab experiments students understand collision theory and its connection to some of the factors involved in altering reaction rates. Controlling reaction rates is an integral part of many household, commercial, and industrial processes.
Students break into small groups to answer the questions.
Group results are presented to the class. Discuss the fundamentals of collision theory, introducing energy considerations and PE diagrams. Indicate the similarities and differences of each reaction, and suggest properties that might be used to observe and measure the rate of each reaction. Students predict which reaction they think would be faster. Discuss, in terms of reaction kinetics, the role the nature of reactants plays in the rates of reactions.