reaction mechanisms

[AMahadi]

Why is it that the probability of 3 molecules colliding simultaneously is unlikely?

[205007651]

In class Lavelle explained in the sense of throwing people throwing a ball trying to aim to hit the other ball. The probability of hitting eachother's ball is much more likely if you have two people, while with three people throwing three balls the likelihood of them all colliding with each other at the same time(especially if the people's eyes are closed) is much lower than just two hitting each other at the same time.

[Sydney Myers 4I]

Most reactions only have two molecules involved and not three because there are so many more ways that three molecules can collide than just two, which decreases the likelyhood of the correct orientation occurring and producing a sufficient amount of product to consider it.