Question

Collision frequency provides an upper limit on how fast a reaction can take place. The laws of probability tell us that the number of collisions depends on the ____ of the number of reactant particles, not their ____.

a) Sum; product
b) Product; sum
c) Sum; sum
d) Product; product

Answer 1

The frequency of collisions in a chemical reaction relies on the product of the number of reactant particles, which, when increased, can lead to a higher reaction rate.

Step-by-step explanation:

The number of collisions in a chemical reaction depends on the product of the number of reactant particles, not their sum. The correct answer to the student's question is thus b) Product; sum. According to collision theory, increasing the concentration of reactants in a system increases the likelihood of collisions because there are more particles per unit volume. More collisions generally lead to an increased reaction rate, assuming each collision has adequate energy and the correct orientation for the reaction to occur.