Exam specific answers (rate equation)

Question 1

The rate equation for a reaction is
rate = k[E]
Explain qualitatively why doubling the temperature has a much greater
effect on the rate of the reaction than doubling the concentration of E

Answer 1

• the reaction occurs when molecules have energy greate than or equal to the activation energy
• doubling the temperature by 10 degrees celsius causes many more molecules to have this energy
• doubling [E] only doubles the number with this energy