Jenny completes an experiment in which she studies the reaction: A (g) + B (g) Imported Asset C (l) + D (g). She finds the reaction occurs at a faster rate if the reactants are compressed. Explain Jenny's observation.

Question

Jenny completes an experiment in which she studies the reaction: A (g) + B (g)  Imported Asset  C (l) + D (g). She finds the reaction occurs at a faster rate if the reactants are compressed. Explain Jenny's observation.

anonymous · Answer

Compressing the reactants increases pressure. Effectively, this causes the concentration of the gases to increase inside the container, and increases the frequency of collisions between reactants. Reactions tend to occur at faster rates with an increase in concentration.