Question

When the concentrations of the reactants are increased, the rate of the reaction increases. This is best explained by

a) an increase in the fraction of molecules that have enough energy to react.
b) an increase in the frequency of the molecular collisions.
c) an increase in the rate constant.
d) an increase in the kinetic energy of the molecules.
e) an increase in the average potential energy of the molecules.

Answer 1

The increased reaction rate due to higher concentrations of reactants is explained by an increase in the frequency of molecular collisions, as per collision theory.

Step-by-step explanation:

When the concentrations of the reactants are increased, the rate of the reaction increases. This phenomenon is best explained by b) an increase in the frequency of the molecular collisions. When more reactant molecules are present within a given space, their proximity leads to a higher chance of collisions. According to collision theory, a greater number of collisions results in an increase in the reaction rate, assuming that the energy of the collisions is adequate for the reactants to react. The given options refer to different aspects that may contribute to reaction speeds, but the most direct cause of increased reaction speed with increased concentration is the collision frequency.