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Ch.14 - Chemical Kinetics
Chapter 14, Problem 64

The temperature dependence of the rate constant for a reaction is tabulated as follows: Temperature (K) k 1M 1 s1 2 600 0.028 650 0.22 700 1.3 750 6.0 800 23 Calculate Ea and A.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Arrhenius Equation

The Arrhenius equation relates the rate constant (k) of a chemical reaction to the temperature (T) and activation energy (Ea). It is expressed as k = A * e^(-Ea/(RT)), where A is the pre-exponential factor, R is the universal gas constant, and T is the temperature in Kelvin. This equation highlights how temperature influences reaction rates and is fundamental for calculating Ea and A.
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Activation Energy (Ea)

Activation energy (Ea) is the minimum energy required for a chemical reaction to occur. It represents the energy barrier that reactants must overcome to form products. A higher Ea indicates a slower reaction rate at a given temperature, while a lower Ea suggests a faster reaction. Understanding Ea is crucial for predicting how temperature changes affect reaction rates.
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Pre-exponential Factor (A)

The pre-exponential factor (A) in the Arrhenius equation is a constant that represents the frequency of collisions and the orientation of reactants during a reaction. It reflects the likelihood that collisions will lead to a successful reaction. A is temperature-dependent and can be determined alongside Ea when analyzing the temperature dependence of rate constants.
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