Speed of reaction

Question 1

Using the collision theory, explain the effect of temperature on the rate of reaction.

Answer 1

Initially at low temperatures, the rate of reaction is low as the reactant molecules have little kinetic energy. As the temperature increases, more kinetic energy is transferred to the reactant molecules and there will then be a greater number of reactant molecules with energy equal to or greater than the activation energy, leading to an increase in the frequency of effective collisions, thus increasing the rate of reaction.