Elementary Reactions & Bonds
- Collision theory explains some important features of an elementary reaction but does not explain the role of activation energy
- In elementary reactions, the energy from the collision of reactant molecules is used to break bonds before products are formed
- Bond breaking and bond making, in relation to activation energy, are described by the transition state theory of reaction rate
Transition State Theory
- Transition-state theory explains the reaction resulting from the collision of two molecules in terms of an activated complex
- An activated complex is an unstable, high-energy species that must be formed before the reaction can occur
- The transition state describes an intermediate where bonds in the reacting molecules have not been completely broken and new bonds in products have not completely formed
- For example in the reaction between carbon monoxide, CO, and nitrogen dioxide, NO2, the activated complex is made up of CO and NO2 molecules in close contact
- In this activated complex, the N—O bond in the NO2 molecule has been partially broken and a new bond between carbon and oxygen has started to form
- The dotted lines stand for “partial bonds” in the activated complex
Activated Complex
A diagram showing the reaction path involving the formation of activated complex
- One advantage of the transition state theory is that it explains why the activation energy of reactions is much smaller than the energy required to break the bonds in reacting molecules
- This is because the formation of an activated complex requires the absorption of relatively little energy needed to weaken the bonds rather than breaking them
- In the reaction above, the activation energy is 134 kJ/mol
- This is considerably smaller than the amount of energy required to break the bonds in the reactants:
- CO 1075 kJ
- N O 607 kJ
- N – O 222 kJ