Arrhenius equation for temperature dependence of reaction rates

E562310

The Arrhenius equation for temperature dependence of reaction rates is a fundamental formula in chemical kinetics that quantitatively relates a reaction’s rate constant to temperature and activation energy, explaining why reactions speed up as temperature increases.

Try in SPARQL Jump to: Statements Referenced by

Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf chemical kinetics equation
empirical equation
temperature dependence law
allowsEstimationOf activation energy from experimental rate constants
pre-exponential factor from experimental data
appliesTo elementary reactions
many overall reactions as an empirical fit
ArrheniusPlotDefinition plot of ln k versus 1/T
ArrheniusPlotIntercept ln A
ArrheniusPlotSlope −Ea / R
assumes constant activation energy over studied temperature range
single dominant reaction pathway
canBeLinearizedAs ln k = ln A − Ea / (R · T)
describes temperature dependence of reaction rate constants
explains increase of reaction rate with temperature
field chemical kinetics
physical chemistry
graphType Arrhenius plot NERFINISHED
hasLimitation may fail for complex mechanisms with changing rate-determining step
may not hold over very wide temperature ranges
hasMathematicalForm k = A · exp(−Ea / (R · T))
hasSpecialCase zero activation energy gives temperature-independent rate constant
hasVariable A (pre-exponential factor)
Ea (activation energy)
R (gas constant)
T (absolute temperature)
k (rate constant)
historicalProposalPeriod late 19th century
historicalProposedBy Svante Arrhenius NERFINISHED
implies rate constant increases with increasing temperature for positive activation energy
isApproximationOf transition state theory rate expression
isTaughtIn chemical engineering kinetics courses
undergraduate physical chemistry courses
isUsedIn accelerated aging tests
atmospheric chemistry modeling
chemical reactor design
combustion modeling
materials degradation studies
reaction rate modeling
mathematicalType exponential function of inverse temperature
namedAfter Svante Arrhenius NERFINISHED
predicts exponential dependence of rate constant on inverse temperature
relates rate constant to activation energy
rate constant to temperature
requires positive absolute temperature
requiresUnitsConsistency activation energy and gas constant units must match
supportsConcept activation energy barrier
usesTemperatureScale Kelvin NERFINISHED

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Svante Arrhenius theory Arrhenius equation for temperature dependence of reaction rates