Collision Theory of Chemical Reactions

Unimolecular Reactions might seem to not participate in the collision theory due to the presence of only a single molecule. In such cases, the molecule is activated by external forces such as heat, light, electricity, or by colliding with the walls of the container. This force charges the molecule enough to break the activation barrier and result in an effective collision.

Successful collisions help in the formation of new products, whereas in unsuccessful collisions the molecules just bounce back without causing any reaction. In such cases, the reaction fails and no new product or bond is formed.

For a collision to happen, the molecules must collide with each other at a high frequency. But the result can still lead to disappointment. This is because even if molecules collide effectively, they also need to be aligned properly in symmetry. Only this can help in the formation of new bonds. Hence, the molecular orientation is considered important in he concept of collision theory.