Effective Collisions

Definition

These are collisions between reactant molecules that result in a chemical reaction. For a collision to be effective, the molecules must collide with sufficient energy (known as activation energy) and in the correct orientation.

Related terms

Activation Energy:

The minimum amount of energy required for a chemical reaction to occur.

Collision Theory:

A theory that states that chemical reactions can only occur when particles collide with each other with sufficient energy and in the correct orientation.

Reaction Rate:

The speed at which reactants turn into products in a chemical reaction.