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A reaction can occur between a CH₃Cl molecule and a hydroxide ion A - VCE - SSCE Chemistry - Question 5 - 2008 - Paper 1
Question 5
A reaction can occur between a CH₃Cl molecule and a hydroxide ion A. every time they collide. B. only when they collide with exactly the energy X. C. only when they ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:A reaction can occur between a CH₃Cl molecule and a hydroxide ion A - VCE - SSCE Chemistry - Question 5 - 2008 - Paper 1
Step 1
D. only when they collide with an energy greater than or equal to energy X.
Answer
In chemical reactions, collisions between molecules must have sufficient energy to overcome the activation energy barrier for the reaction to occur. This principle is encapsulated in the collision theory of chemical reactions, where it's posited that:
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Collision Requirement: A reaction occurs only if the reactants collide with sufficient energy, typically described as the energy threshold.
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Activation Energy: The term 'energy X' refers to the activation energy needed for the reaction between CH₃Cl and the hydroxide ion to proceed.
Thus, for the reaction between a CH₃Cl molecule and a hydroxide ion to occur, they must collide with an energy that is greater than or equal to the activation energy (energy X). This makes option D the correct choice.