activation energy/ collision theroy /igcse/gcse chemistry notes

Collision theory

it says that a chemical reaction can only occurbetween particles when they collide (hit each other).Particles may be atoms, ions or molecules

activation energy

There is a minimum amount of energywhich colliding particles need in order to react with each other.If the colliding particles have less than this minimum energythen they just bounce off each other and no reaction occurs.This minimum energy is called the activation energy.
The faster the particles are going, the more energy they have.Fast moving particles are more likely to react when they collide.You can make particles move more quickly by heating them up