Q.What is the effect of temperature on reaction rate? What is Arrhenius equation? (2 + 3)
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Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Higher temperature --> faster reaction (rate roughly doubles per 10 C rise); Arrhenius equation k = A e^(-Ea/RT) gives the exact dependence.
Part 1 — Effect of temperature on reaction rate:
The rate of almost every reaction increases when the temperature is raised. Experimentally, for many reactions the rate (and the rate constant k) becomes nearly double for every 10 degree Celsius rise in temperature. The ratio of the rate constants differing by 10 C is called the temperature coefficient (usually 2 to 3).
Reason (collision/activation-energy view): molecules must possess a minimum energy called the activation energy (Ea) and collide with proper orientation to react. At a given temperature only a fraction of molecules have energy >= Ea. When temperature is raised, the Maxwell distribution of molecular energies shifts, and the fraction of molecules having energy equal to or greater than Ea increases sharply. Hence the number of effective (fruitful) collisions per unit time increases, and the reaction rate rises.
Part 2 — Arrhenius equation:
The quantitative relationship between the rate constant k and the temperature T was given by Arrhenius:
k = A e^(-Ea/RT)
where:
- k = rate constant
- A = Arrhenius (frequency / pre-exponential) factor, related to the frequency of collisions and their orientation
- Ea = activation energy of the reaction
- R = gas constant (8.314 J K^-1 mol^-1)
- T = absolute temperature (in kelvin) …
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