Question

For the same reaction (same A), which condition will have stronger temperature-dependence (rate changes more in the same dT)?

a) High activation energy
b) Low activation energy
c) No temperature dependence
d) Constant reaction rate

Answer 1

A reaction with a high activation energy will have a stronger temperature dependence on its rate, as a small increase in temperature can lead to a significant increase in the rate of the reaction.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student is asking about the relationship between activation energy and temperature dependence of chemical reaction rates. Based on the Arrhenius equation, which describes this relationship, a reaction with a high activation energy will have a more pronounced temperature dependence compared to a reaction with a low activation energy. This is because a slight increase in temperature can significantly increase the fraction of molecules with enough energy to overcome a high activation barrier, leading to a much faster reaction rate. On the other hand, if the activation energy is low, a temperature increase will still raise the reaction rate but not as dramatically.