How does a catalyst affect collision theory?

1 Answer
Dr. Hayek
May 12, 2016

The catalyst does not affect the rate of collision since it does not change the kinetic energy (#KE#) of particles.

Explanation:

A catalyst by definition is a substance which is not a reactant nor a product that increases the rate of the reaction by lowering its activation energy (see graph below).
enter image source here
#color(gray)("Image source")#: http://www.silicones.eu/science-research/adjuvants-and-auxiliaries/catalysts

#color(blue)("uncatalyzed reaction")#
#color(red)("catalyzed reaction")#

Note that the catalyst does not affect the rate of collision since it does not change the kinetic energy (#KE#) of particles.

#KE=3/2RT#

The kinetic energy depends only on temperature, and catalyst does not change the temperature of a reaction.

Chemical Kinetics | A Model for Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis.

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