Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
The rate of reaction refers to how quickly reactants are transformed into products during a chemical reaction. Temperature has a significant influence on this rate.
A catalyst is a substance that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process. It's like having an express lane on the highway that helps cars reach their destination faster.
Reaction Kinetics: Reaction kinetics is the study of how different factors, such as temperature, concentration, and catalysts, affect the rate at which reactions occur.
Collision Theory: Collision theory explains that for a chemical reaction to occur, particles must collide with sufficient energy and proper orientation. It's like cars needing to collide at the right speed and angle on the highway to cause an accident.