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A novel derivation of collision theory rate constants for a bimolecular reaction

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Abstract

A novel exact derivation for the kinetic constant of a bimolecular reaction according to three well-known models of collision theory is reported. The use of probability density functions, with the introduction of a novel geometry to study the collision process, allows simplifying the derivation to such an extent, that, for a proper statistical background, it is is possible to recover the line-of-centers and the angular dependent line-of-centers models in no more than a couple of lectures. Although the derivation is introduced to recover the temperature-dependent kinetic constant, it is shown that the energy-dependent reactive cross section can be recovered as well. A possible confusion in the interpretation of the pre-exponential factor is commented.

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Correspondence to Guglielmo Monaco.

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Monaco, G. A novel derivation of collision theory rate constants for a bimolecular reaction. J Math Chem 49, 1544–1557 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10910-011-9840-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10910-011-9840-5

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