Arrhenius Equation

To this point, we have only attempted to quantify rate as a function of concentration. We have ignored trying to create an equation with surface area, catalysts, or temperature. Without getting too complicated, Id like to briefly examine temperature again and see how we can quantify its effect on the rate. It is done through the use of the Arrhenius Equation: k = Ae-E*/RT Now before you get too worried, lets examine this equation. Obviously we are examining k, the rate constant. Apparently, the k value has something to do with the temperature as it shows up here. k = Ae-E*/RT What are all the other components of this? A is simply a factor called the frequency factor. It basically is a unit that tells us how often a molecule has a chance to overcome the activation energy and therefore have the reaction be successful. The second part of the equation (the e part) is the exponential factor. It tells us how many molecules actually have enough energy to react. E* is simply the activation energy as we learned earlier. R is just the gas constant, 8.314 J/molK. T is just the temperature in Kelvins. The Arrhenius Equation can get quite complicated but it will tell us something useful if we apply a little math to it. If we take the ln of each side of the equation we get the following: ln k = ln A + ln(e-E*/RT) Or completing the math. ln k = ln A - E*(1/T) R Or ln k = - E*(1/T) + ln A R Now it might not look like it, but this equation is in straight-line or y = mx +b format: y = mx + b ln k = - E*(1/T) + ln A R Which means that if we plot the ln k vs. (1/T) and get a straight line, the slope of that line will include the activation energy E* and we can solve for it. Lets see how this works:
AP Pirate Chemistry All text copyright Christopher Smith 2010. All pictures obtained from the web and assumed to be publicly accessible. If you are the owner of a picture and want it removed, please email csmith@d211.org.

Example 1:
T (Kelvin) 300 400 500 Rate constant, k 4.70x1004 1.26x1010 2.28x1013
ln k

ln k vs 1/T
35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0

y = -14968x + 60.658

1/T ln k 0.003333 10.7579 0.0025 23.2579 0.002 30.71

0.0018

0.0023

0.0028 1/T

0.0033

0.0038

The top table above shows the Kelvin temperature and its effect on the rate constant, k. However, if we translate that to the inverse of temperature (1/T) vs. the natural log of k (ln k) and graph them we get the graph seen above right. Remembering that the Arrhenius equation is: ln k = - E*(1/T) + ln A R And therefore the slope (m) of the line is equal to: m= - E* R

We see that the slope is equal to 14, 968. Knowing that R = 8.314 J/molK we get: -14968 = - E* 8.314 J/molK Or E* = 124,000 J or 124 kJ Therefore the activation energy of the reaction is 124 kJ.

AP Pirate Chemistry All text copyright Christopher Smith 2010. All pictures obtained from the web and assumed to be publicly accessible. If you are the owner of a picture and want it removed, please email csmith@d211.org.