For a certain reaction large fraction of molecules has energy more than thethreshold energy, yet the rate of reaction is very slow. Why
Question
For a certain reaction large fraction of molecules has energy more than thethreshold energy, yet the rate of reaction is very slow. Why
Solution
The rate of a chemical reaction is not only determined by the energy of the molecules involved, but also by the orientation of the molecules when they collide. This is known as the steric factor or the probability factor. Even if a large fraction of molecules has energy more than the threshold energy, the reaction may still be slow if the molecules are not properly oriented for the reaction to occur. This is especially true for complex reactions where a specific arrangement of atoms is required for the reaction to proceed. Additionally, the presence of a catalyst, which lowers the activation energy and properly orients the reactants, can also affect the rate of reaction.
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