If you're seeing this message, it means we're having trouble loading external resources on our website.

If you're behind a web filter, please make sure that the domains *.kastatic.org and *.kasandbox.org are unblocked.

Main content

Course: High school chemistry > Unit 8

Lesson 1: Reaction rates
Science
High school chemistry
Reaction rates and equilibrium
Reaction rates
© 2024 Khan AcademyTerms of usePrivacy PolicyCookie Notice

Understand: collision theory

Google Classroom

Problem

The graph below shows the energy of an exothermic chemical reaction.
This graph of an exothermic reaction plots potential energy on the Y axis verses reaction progress on the X axis. There are 6 labeled parts of the graph. The reactants start at point D. The energy curve rises to a peak at point E, then falls back down to the products at point F. There are three vertical lines marking energy values. Line A extends from the reactants up to the peak. Line B extends from the reactants down to the products. Line C encompasses both of these, extending from the peak down to the products.
Complete the statements to describe this reaction.
  • The energy needed to trigger a chemical reaction is called the
    energy, and is labeled
    on the graph above.
  • This energy is required to reach the
    , marked by point
    on the graph.