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 collision model is a theory that states chemical reactions occur when reactant molecules collide with the proper orientation and sufficient energy.
This is the minimum amount of energy required for a chemical reaction to occur. It's like needing a certain amount of strength to make an effective shot in pool.
This refers to how quickly or slowly reactants turn into products in a chemical reaction. In our pool game analogy, it's similar to how fast or slow players can sink all their balls into pockets.
Orientation Factor: This is about how molecules must be oriented during collisions for reactions to happen. Like in pool, where hitting balls from different angles will lead them towards different directions.