Answer to Question #37858 in Physical Chemistry for chamalis

Question

What factors determine weither a collisin between two molecules will lead to a chemical reaction?

Answer 1

The collision between molecules leads to chemical reaction if the following requirements are met:
1) The total energy of collision is larger than activation barrier of the reaction (enthalpy factor);
2) Disposition of the molecules at the collision moment allows the formation of new bonds (symmetry and enthropy factors);
3) Reaction is allowed by quantum rules (symmetry and quantum factors).
The quantitative measure of these factors can be described in terms of Transition State Theory (TST) and in terms of the Collision Theory.