why might a collision fail to produce a reaction?

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why might a collision fail to produce a reaction?

2007-10-01 07:27:32 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry

3 answers

There is not enough kinetic energy in the particles entering the collision, and/or the orientation of the molecules was not right, to overcome the activation energy of the reaction.

2007-10-01 07:30:46 · answer #1 · answered by Dr Dave P 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋

Because there may not be enough kinetic energy in the particles that are colliding. Even exothermic reactions have a "reaction energy" that is necessary before the reaction will take place, and endothermic reactions obviously need a certain amount of energy to take place.

2007-10-01 07:42:42 · answer #2 · answered by Steve P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋

When the particles haven't collided hard enough - they didn't accumulate the "activation energy".

2007-10-01 07:30:04 · answer #3 · answered by Gervald F 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋