Question

An increase in temperature increases the rate at which a spontaneous reaction occurs in a test tube. This is because an increase in temperature _____.

1) lowers the energy of activation (EA)
2) makes all molecules more reactive
3) increases the proportion of molecules that have sufficient kinetic energy to react
4) acts as a catalyst

Answer 1

An increase in temperature increases the rate of a spontaneous reaction because it increases the proportion of molecules that have sufficient kinetic energy to react.

Step-by-step explanation:

When the temperature is increased, the particles in a reaction move faster and collide more frequently. This leads to a higher reaction rate. Additionally, the collisions occur with more force, making it more likely for the reactant particles to overcome the activation energy barrier and form products. As a result, an increase in temperature increases the proportion of molecules that have sufficient kinetic energy to react, which in turn increases the rate of the reaction.