(b) As the temperature increases, does the reaction rate increase or decrease?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of reaction rate. The reaction rate is the speed at which a chemical reaction occurs. It is typically measured in terms of how fast the concentration of reactants decreases or the concentration of products increases over time.
2. Step 2: Understand the role of temperature in reaction rate. Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance. In a chemical reaction, the reactant molecules must collide with enough energy to overcome the activation energy of the reaction. The higher the temperature, the more kinetic energy the molecules have, and the more likely they are to have enough energy to overcome the activation energy when they collide.
3. Step 3: Apply this understanding to the question. As the temperature increases, the average kinetic energy of the molecules increases. This means that more molecules have enough energy to overcome the activation energy of the reaction, leading to more successful collisions and a faster reaction rate.
4. Step 4: Therefore, as the temperature increases, the reaction rate also increases.

Key Concepts

Reaction Rate

The reaction rate refers to the speed at which reactants are converted into products in a chemical reaction. It is influenced by various factors, including concentration, temperature, and the presence of catalysts. Understanding how these factors affect the rate is crucial for predicting the behavior of chemical reactions.

Temperature and Kinetic Energy

Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of particles in a substance. As temperature increases, the kinetic energy of the molecules also increases, leading to more frequent and energetic collisions between reactant molecules. This heightened activity generally results in an increased reaction rate.

Arrhenius Equation

The Arrhenius equation quantitatively describes how temperature affects reaction rates. It states that the rate constant of a reaction increases exponentially with an increase in temperature, due to the increased energy available for overcoming the activation energy barrier. This relationship helps explain why many reactions proceed faster at higher temperatures.