What is the effect of temperature on the rate constant of a reaction according to the Arrhenius equation?
Practice Questions
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Q1
What is the effect of temperature on the rate constant of a reaction according to the Arrhenius equation?
Rate constant decreases with temperature
Rate constant increases with temperature
Rate constant is unaffected by temperature
Rate constant is only affected by activation energy
According to the Arrhenius equation, an increase in temperature generally leads to an increase in the rate constant, k.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
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Q
Q: What is the effect of temperature on the rate constant of a reaction according to the Arrhenius equation?
Solution: According to the Arrhenius equation, an increase in temperature generally leads to an increase in the rate constant, k.
Steps: 6
Step 1: Understand the Arrhenius equation, which is k = A * e^(-Ea/(RT)).
Step 2: Identify the variables in the equation: k is the rate constant, A is the pre-exponential factor, Ea is the activation energy, R is the gas constant, and T is the temperature in Kelvin.
Step 3: Note that as temperature (T) increases, the value of -Ea/(RT) becomes less negative.
Step 4: Realize that when -Ea/(RT) is less negative, e^(-Ea/(RT)) increases.
Step 5: Conclude that an increase in e^(-Ea/(RT)) results in a higher rate constant (k).
Step 6: Therefore, according to the Arrhenius equation, an increase in temperature generally leads to an increase in the rate constant, k.
