Why do only some collisions between particles result in a chemical reaction?

Only collisions that give the particles enough energy to overcome the activation energy barrier lead to a reaction. collisions with insufficient energy do not provide the required energy to break bonds and form new ones, so the particles simply rebound or continue unchanged.

The answer demonstrates understandingof collision theory, specifically the role of activation energy in determiningwhether a collision is successful. It tests the student’s ability to explain the selective nature of reactive collisions.