Question

If the uncatalyzed reaction occurs in a single elementary step, why is it a slow reaction?
Check all that apply.
a. All reactions that occur in one step are slow.
b. The probability of an effective three-particle collision is low.
c. The transition state is low in energy.
d. The reaction requires the collision of three particles with the correct energy.

Answer 1

Explanation:

When a chemical reaction has low activation energy then rate of reaction will be fast.

When three or more particles collide with each other then there are less chances that all of them collide with correct energy and orientation.

Due to which the reaction will be slow in nature.

And, according to Arrhenius, if the particles collide with correct orientation  and energy then rate of reaction becomes fast with increase in number of effective collisions.

Thus, we can conclude that if the uncatalyzed reaction occurs in a single elementary step, it is a slow reaction because:

• The probability of an effective three-particle collision is low.

• The reaction requires the collision of three particles with the correct energy.