Upper Secondary Chemistry · Chemical Kinetics
When do two molecules react? Explore how energy and orientation determine which collisions are effective.
Developed by Dr. Georgios Malis
Collisions alone are not enough: molecules need sufficient energy and a suitable orientation.
The percentage is calculated from collisions recorded in this simulation.
1. Observe a few collisions: which produce AB and which do not? 2. Change only the temperature and compare the number of AB molecules formed over equal time intervals. 3. Keep temperature constant and enable the catalyst. 4. Reduce the reactive-side width and explain why many sufficiently energetic collisions fail.
Scientific note: Simplified educational two-dimensional model (A + B → AB). Energies are derived from an idealized velocity distribution rather than any specific real reaction. It cannot quantitatively predict experimental rate constants, heats of reaction, or actual molecular geometry. Each restart initiates a new experiment under the selected conditions. A catalyst is modeled solely by reducing Eₐ.