Question

Using kinetic molecular theory and collision theory, explain why the absolute temperature scale (kelvins) is more appropriate than celsius for explaining the effect of temperature on reaction rate

Answer 1

The kinetic theory of gases states that the total average energy of the movement (translation) of a molecule is directly proportional to the absolute temperature of the gas. Then, as the temperature increases, the number of collisions increases, since the higher the temperature, the greater the number of collisions.

Therefore, the reaction rate will increase as the temperature increases.

In other words :

If a reaction suffers an increase in temperature or concentration, it will generate an increase in the number of effective collisions.

In this context, a change in temperature in the Kelvin scale is directly related to kinetic energy of the molecules, hence the 0 degrees Kelvin represents zero kinetic energy; while the Celsius scale is indirectly related kinetic energy, it is based on the range between freezing and boiling water temperatures in 100 equal parts, this means the zero degrees Celsius is based on the change in temperature in water and is not the absolute zero.

Answer 2

According  to   kinetic   molecular  theory  temperature  is  a  measure  of  kinetic  energy.There  is  absolute  minimum  temperature  which  occurs  when  something  completely  stop  moving   whereby  temperature  cannot  become  lower   than   this  point. The   absolute  zero  which  has  been  extrapolated  to  exist  at  about  -273  celsius  while  in   kelvin  scale  is  set  such  that  absolute  zero  is 0  k  thus  kelvin   is  better   inorder  to  avoid  negative  number  when  calculating.