Question

Which of the following is the best way to judge the relative activation energies between two given chemical reactions?

a) The complexity of the reaction
b) The enthalpy change
c) The reaction rate
d) The height of the energy barrier

Answer 1

d) The height of the energy barrier

The height of the energy barriers on potential energy diagrams is the best way to compare the relative activation energies of two chemical reactions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best way to judge the relative activation energies between two given chemical reactions is by comparing the height of the energy barriers on their potential energy diagrams.

The activation energy for a reaction is represented by the height of the hill between the reactants and the products on this diagram. A higher barrier correlates to a greater activation energy, which usually results in a slower reaction rate. Hence, among the given options, the height of the energy barrier is the most direct method of comparison.