The Arrhenius Equation

Question 1

What does the Arrhenius equation show?

Answer 1

The Arrhenius equation shows how the rate constant (k) varies with temperature (T) and activation energy (Ea)

Question 2

What is the formula for the Arrhenius equation?

Answer 2

k = Ae ^(-Ea/RT) where,

k = rate constant
Ea = activation energy
T = temperature (K)
R = gas constant (8.31)
A = the Arrhenius constant

Question 3

What happens to k as the activation energy gets bigger?

Answer 3

As the activation energy, Ea, gets bigger, k gets smaller

Question 4

Why will a large activation energy have a fast or slow rate?

Answer 4

A slow rate because if a reaction has a high activation energy, then not many of the reactant particles will have enough energy to react. So only a few of the collisions will result in the reaction happening, and the rate will be slow

Question 5

What happens to k as temperature rises?

Answer 5

As temperature rises, k increases

Question 6

Why does a higher temperature mean a higher value of k?

Answer 6

Higher temperatures mean reactant particles move around faster and with more energy, so they’re more likely to collide and more likely to collide with the activation energy, so reaction rate increases