Molecular Collisions

Definition

Molecular collisions refer to the interactions between molecules that can result in a chemical reaction or a physical change.

Analogy

Think of molecular collisions like bumper cars at an amusement park. Just as bumper cars need to collide with enough force and at the right angle to cause a spin, molecules must collide with sufficient energy and proper orientation for a reaction to occur.

Related terms

Activation Energy: This is the minimum amount of energy required for a chemical reaction to occur. It's like the minimum speed needed for the bumper car collision to cause a spin.

Reaction Rate: This refers to how quickly or slowly reactants turn into products in a chemical reaction. It's similar to how many spins you can get from your bumper car collisions in one minute.

Stoichiometry: This is the calculation of relative quantities of reactants and products in chemical reactions. It's like figuring out how many tickets you earn per spin in those bumper cars.