Lesson Plan

Lesson: Collision Theory

Aim :

To study the effects of concentration and temperature on the rate of a reaction in terms of
the Collision Theory.

Learning Outcomes :

At the end of the lesson, students will be able to :

1. explain that a chemical reaction can only take place if the reacting particles collide
with sufficient energy and correct orientation.

2. interpret Arrhenius equation.

3. explain the effect of concentration and temperature of reactants on the rate of

reaction.

Assumed prior knowledge :

Students should already :

1. be familiar with energy profiles of exothermic and endothermic reactions and the
concept of activation energy.

2. be familiar with the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution of molecular energies.

Underlying Principles

Enabling students to know what to look for.

Time taken to complete the activities : 80 minutes

Differentiation

Questions in the student notes are designed to enable all students to complete the activity.
The pop-up answers are provided for the students to view when they have considered their
responses. Worksheet questions include questions that require recall, understanding and
application of the new concepts learned.

Page 1 of 4
© 2003 Ministry Of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved.
Development of Lesson :

No. Steps Strategy Resources

1 Set Induction. • Teacher to quiz students to ensure that

(Ascertaining prior they have the prior knowledge.
knowledge and
introducing lesson • Teacher to get students to list out factors
topic for the day). that affect the rate of a reaction (ie.
concentration, pressure, temperature,
presence of catalysts, etc) before
introducing lesson objectives for the day.

2 Student Activity Teacher to go through Activities 1 - 3 with • Courseware

the students.

• Activity 1 : The Collision Theory

Students get to investigate how particles

must collide with the correct energy and
orientation in order for them to react.

• Activity 2 : Effect of concentration

Students get to investigate how an
increase in concentration of the reactants
results in an increase in the rate of
reaction.

• Activity 3 : Effect of temperature

Students get to investigate how the

Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution curve is
affected by an increase in temperature
leading to an increase in the number of
particles having sufficient energy to react.
Students are also shown the relationship
between the rate constant and activation
energy to the rate constant via the
Arrhenius equation.

3 Evaluation • Students to answer questions in the • Worksheet

student worksheet on their own.

4 Extension activity • Students to go through the extension • Websites

activities on their own. • Reference
books.

Page 2 of 4
© 2003 Ministry Of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved.
Worksheet Answers

1. The collision theory

1.1 Collisions between reactant particles will result in a chemical change only if the
particles have the correct orientation and sufficient energy to overcome the
activation energy of the reaction.

1.2 a. Activation energy is the minimum energy needed by the reactants to form
the activated complex.

b. The activated complex is the arrangement of the reactant molecules with

the maximum potential energy.

2. Effect of concentration

2.1 a. An increased concentration of P would result in an increase in the rate of the

reaction. According to the collision theory, reactant molecules must collide in
order for them to react. When the concentration of P is increased, the
frequency of effective collisions between the particles of P and Q is also
increased resulting in a higher rate of reaction.

b. The yield of PQ2 is dependent on the amount of both P and Q involved in the
reaction. An increase in the amount of P due to its higher concentration will
not result in a higher yield if the amount of P is already in excess.

2.2 a. The concentration of the reactants, the temperature, the surface area of solid
reactants and the presence of a catalyst.

b. i. By using lumps of calcium carbonate instead of powdered calcium

carbonate.
ii. By lowering the temperature.
iii. By using hydrochloric acid of a lower concentration.

c. No. The concentration of the acid remains the same.

d. No. The limiting reagent in this experiment is calcium carbonate. The amount
of carbon dioxide produced depends on the amount of calcium carbonate
used. Since the amount of calcium carbonate remains unchanged, the
amount of carbon dioxide produced should also remain the same.

Page 3 of 4
© 2003 Ministry Of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved.
3. Effect of temperature

3.1 a.
Number of
molecules
with energy,
E

(T+10)K

Ea
Kinetic energy
energy
b. The rate of reaction at (T + 10) K is higher than that at T. Molecules have
higher energy at higher temperatures. The shaded area beneath the curves
shows that the number of molecules having energy equal to or greater than
Ea is now higher at (T + 10) K.

3.2 According to the Arrhenius equation, an increase in temperature results in an

increase in the rate constant. As rate = k[A]n, an increase in the rate constant results
in an increase in the rate of reaction.

Page 4 of 4
© 2003 Ministry Of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved.