Key Concepts: Reaction Rates & Catalysts

Core Definitions

• Reaction Rate: The speed at which reactants are converted to products.
• Collision Theory: Particles must collide with enough energy and proper orientation to react.
• Temperature Effect: Increasing temperature increases particle speed and collision frequency → faster rate.
• Concentration Effect: Higher concentration means more particles → more collisions → faster rate.
• Surface Area Effect: Smaller particles (greater surface area) react faster.
• Catalyst: Speeds up a reaction by lowering activation energy; is not consumed.