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GCSE Combined Science · key term
The minimum energy that reacting particles must have for a collision to result in a reaction.
Used by AQA and Edexcel
Specification 5.5.1.2, 5.6.1.3, 5.6.1.4 · Paper 3, Paper 4
The minimum amount of energy that colliding particles must have for a reaction to occur.
Revise: Reaction ProfilesDifferent reactions have different activation energies.
The minimum amount of energy that reacting particles must have to react.
Specification Rates of reaction, Heat energy changes in chemical reactions · Paper 3, Paper 4
Revise: Rates of reactionThe minimum required energy is the activation energy.
The minimum energy that colliding particles must have for a reaction to occur.
Draw activation energy from the reactants’ energy level to the peak, not from the horizontal axis.
For temperature, include both effects: more frequent collisions and a greater proportion of collisions with energy at least equal to the activation energy.
Explain the full chain: alternative pathway → lower activation energy → a greater proportion of collisions are successful → faster reaction.
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