Ineffective Collision
Definition
A collision between reactant molecules that does not lead to product formation because it lacks either sufficient kinetic energy or proper orientation or both.
Analogy
Imagine trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. No matter how hard you try or how much force you use, it just won't work because the orientation is wrong. This is similar to an ineffective collision where molecules collide but don't form products due to insufficient energy or incorrect orientation.
Related terms
Potential Energy Surface: A theoretical construct in chemistry that describes the energy of a system as a function of its geometric configuration.
Transition State: The state corresponding to the highest potential energy along the reaction path.
Stoichiometry: The calculation of relative quantities of reactants and products in chemical reactions.
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