溯源辨析国内大学化学教材关于碰撞理论中活化能的定义

A Historical Analysis on the Definition of Activation Energy in Collision Theory

目前国内化学基础课教材关于碰撞理论中活化能的定义存在严重分歧,简单总结了目前中文教材中的3种定义。通过对碰撞理论形成过程中部分历史背景的梳理,总结出碰撞理论所具备的2个基本要素即气体分子运动论的应用以及碰撞活化假设,然后溯源3种不同定义来源的历史文献,从2个基本要素的角度分析3种定义。研究发现中文教材广泛采用的Lewis活化能解说不承认碰撞活化假设,采用了辐射活化假说,同时表述笼统不严谨,Tolman活化能解说是单纯的统计力学处理,没有应用气体分子运动论,不属于碰撞理论范畴。而简单碰撞理论提出的有效碰撞的最低能量作为活化能的定义更能承载碰撞理论的基本要素。

There is a divergence in the definition of activation energy in collision theory and three definitions are found in various Chinese textbooks of general chemistry. Application of kinetic theory of gases and collision activation hypothesis are summarized as two basic elements of collision theory according to historical development of collision theory. These three definitions are compared by evaluating whether they are consistent with the two basic element. It is found the Lewis’ explanation to activation energy was too rough and with some errors in expression and deduction. In addition, it adapted irradiation hypothesis and objected to collision hypothesis. The Tolman’s explanation only introduced statistical treatment without any introduction of kinetic theory of gases, which was not in the framework of collision theory. The minimum energy of effective collision from simple collision theory would be a more suitable definition of activation energy presenting the two basic elements of collision theory.