Arrhenius Equation

Arrhenius equation tells the effect of temperature on the rate of reaction. Basically, by changing temperature how to rate constant is changed. If the rate constant is changed, the rate of reaction is also changed. We studied the relation between temperature and rate constant.

In most of the reactions, on increasing temperature, the rate also increases or rate constant increases.

Rate = K[conc]ⁿ

Rate ∝ K (K is rate constant)

Here we discussed two methods between rate constant and temperature.

Approx dependency
Arrhenius equation

Approx Dependency of “K” on “T”

Generally, on a 10°C rises in temperature, the rate constant (ROR) nearly doubles.

Temperature Coefficient

The temperature coefficient is the ratio of two rates constant.

Temp coefficient = K_(t+10°C) / K_t°C

Most of the time, the value of the temperature coefficient is between 2 and 3. For example, the value of the temperature coefficient is 3.

10°C	20°C	30°C	40°C
K	3K	9K	27K

On increasing the temperature to 10°C, the rate increases 3 times

For a Particular Reaction, the temperature coefficient is 2. If the rate of reaction at 20°C is “x”. Find the rate at 80°C?

The temperature coefficient of 2 means temperature increases by 10°C the rate becomes double.

Temp	20°C	30°C	40°C	50°C	60°C	70°C	80°C
Rate	x	2x	4x	8x	16x	32x	64x

So at 80°C, the rate is 64x.

Arrhenius equation is the accurate dependency of “K” on “T”. According to Arrhenius equation:

K = Rate constant
A = Frequency factor or Arrhenius factor or pre-exponential factor
e = exponential constant
Ea = Activation energy (J/mol)
R = General gas constant (8.314 L/mol)
T = Temperature (Kelvin)

Graphy Between Rate Constant “K” and Temperature “K”

What is meant by the Collision Theory?

According to collision theory, molecules effectively collide and give a product. The word effectively means at a proper angle and at proper energy or particular energy. Generally, in one second, in one cm³ volume, 10²⁷ collisions were done. But all the collisions between reactant molecules are not effective (gives product).

For Effective Collision

Orientation Barrier

Energy Barrier

Activation energy, Ea is the minimum amount of energy that should be given to reactant molecules already having some energy so that they can cross the energy barrier.

Graph: Number of Molecules vs Kinetic Energy

Graph: Fraction of Molecules vs Kinetic Energy

Number of molecules that cross the energy barrier = e^-Ea/RT
By increasing the temperature, the number or fraction of molecules increases.

F.O.M which cross activation energy = e^-Ea/RT

Higher the e^-Ea/RT, the higher the rate

Rate ∝ e^-Ea/RT

K ∝ e^-Ea/RT

K = A.e^-Ea/RT

The above equation is the Arrhenius equation.

Logarithmic Form of Arrhenius Equation OR Method to Find Activation Energy

K = A.e^-Ea/RT

Taking natural log on both side

ln K = ln (A.e^-Ea/RT)

ln K = ln A + ln e^-Ea/RT

ln K = ln A – Ea/RT ln e

ln K = ln A – Ea/RT (1)

ln K = ln A – Ea/RT

Graph: ln K vs 1/T

How We Find the Activation Energy?

We find the activation energy by using the Arrhenius equation. We can find different values of rate constant for different values of temperature then we plot the graph, we will find the slope and equated to -Ea/R.

Slope = tanθ = -Ea/R