Background image of landing

Unrivalled
Education
Solutions for your
Family

Describe the differences between the effective and ineffective collision

Effective collisions lead to chemical reactions, while ineffective collisions do not.

Effective collisions occur when reactant molecules collide with sufficient energy and the correct orientation, allowing them to break existing bonds and form new ones. In essence, these successful collisions result in a chemical reaction. The minimum energy required for a reaction to take place is known as the activation energy, denoted as EaE_a. A higher activation energy corresponds to a lower probability of achieving an effective collision. Effective collisions are crucial for chemical reactions and are influenced by several factors, including temperature, concentration, and surface area.

On the other hand, ineffective collisions take place when reactant molecules collide without enough energy or at an incorrect orientation, resulting in no reaction. Such collisions do not contribute to the overall reaction rate and are therefore considered a waste of energy. Ineffective collisions can arise from conditions such as low temperature, low concentration, or insufficient surface area. By increasing the temperature, concentration, or surface area, we can enhance the frequency of effective collisions, thereby increasing the reaction rate.

In summary, effective collisions occur when reactants collide with adequate energy and the appropriate angle to form new bonds, which is contingent upon overcoming the activation energy barrier. Factors like temperature, concentration, and surface area can significantly increase the likelihood of these effective interactions. Conversely, ineffective collisions lack the necessary energy or orientation, resulting in no reaction. By boosting temperature, concentration, or surface area, we can convert more collisions into effective ones, thus accelerating the reaction rate.

Answered by: Prof. Matthew Carter
A-Level Chemistry Tutor
Medal Icon

100%

Globe Icon

Global

Crest Icon

97%

Professional Tutors

International Tuition

Independent School Entrance Success

All of our elite tutors are full-time professionals, with at least five years of tuition experience and over 5000 accrued teaching hours in their subject.

Based in Cambridge, with operations spanning the globe, we can provide our services to support your family anywhere.

Our families consistently gain offers from at least one of their target schools, including Eton, Harrow, Wellington and Wycombe Abbey.

Medal Icon

100%

Professional Tutors

All of our elite tutors are full-time professionals, with at least five years of tuition experience and over 5000 accrued teaching hours in their subject.

Globe Icon

Global

International Tuition

Based in Cambridge, with operations spanning the globe, we can provide our services to support your family anywhere.

Crest Icon

97%

Independent School Entrance Success

Our families consistently gain offers from at least one of their target schools, including Eton, Harrow, Wellington and Wycombe Abbey.

Book a free
30-minute consultation
session

At the Beyond Tutors we recognise that no two students are the same. 

That’s why we’ve transcended the traditional online tutoring model of cookie-cutter solutions to intricate educational problems. Instead, we devise a bespoke tutoring plan for each individual student, to support you on your path to academic success.

To help us understand your unique educational needs, we provide a free 30-minute consultation with one of our founding partners, so we can devise the tutoring plan that’s right for you.

To ensure we can best prepare for this consultation, we ask you to fill out the short form below.

Hire a Tutor

All the form fields are optional, but we ask you to provide as much information as possible so that we are in a better position to quickly meet your tutoring requirements.

Still have questions?
Let's get in touch