Concept:
According to collision theory, chemical reactions occur due to collisions between reactant molecules.
However, only a fraction of these collisions actually lead to product formation.
Step 1: Define effective collision.
An effective collision is a collision between reactant molecules that results in the formation of products.
Step 2: Conditions for an effective collision.
For a collision to be effective, two requirements must be satisfied simultaneously:
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Energy factor:
Molecules must possess minimum energy called threshold energy (equal to or greater than activation energy) to break existing bonds.
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Orientation factor:
Molecules must collide with proper spatial orientation so that bond breaking and bond formation can occur.
Step 3: Final conclusion.
An effective collision is one in which reactant molecules collide with sufficient kinetic energy and correct orientation to form products.