Reaction Rates and the Temperature:

Collision Theory and the Arrhenius Equation

Transition State: The configuration of atoms at the maximum in the potential

energy profile. This is also called the activated complex.
The Arrhenius Equation
Activation Energy (Ea): The minimum energy needed for reaction. As the
temperature increases, the fraction of collisions with sufficient energy to react
increases.
The Arrhenius Equation
Using the Arrhenius Equation
ln(k) = ln(A) + ln(e–Ea /RT)

Ea
–Ea 1
ln(k) = ln(A) – ln(k) = R T + ln(A)
RT
rearrange the equation
y = mx + b

Slope intercept formula when you

plot ln(k) vs. 1/T :
R = 0.008314 kJ/K mol
.
A: collision frequency factor
Using the Arrhenius Equation
–Ea 1
ln(k) = R T + ln(A)

t (°C) T (K) k (M–1 s–1) 1/T (1/K) lnk

283 556 3.52 x 10–7 0.001 80 –14.860

356 629 3.02 x 10–5 0.001 59 –10.408

393 666 2.19 x 10–4 0.001 50 –8.426

427 700 1.16 x 10–3 0.001 43 –6.759

508 781 3.95 x 10–2 0.001 28 –3.231

Using the Arrhenius Equation

–Ea 1
ln(k) = R T + ln(A)
Example #1
Determine the activation energy and the
collision frequency factor at 700K for the
data below.
k T (K)
0.011 700
0.035 730
0.105 760
0.343 790
0.789 810
Changes in Temperature will
change the rate constant
Increasing temperature will increase the
rate constant (thus increasing the rate).

ln k1 - ln k2 = - (Ea/R)(1/T1 - 1/T2)
Example #2

The rate constant of a first-order reaction is

0.034 at 298K. The activation energy for
this reaction is 50.2 kJ/mol.
What is the rate constant at 350K?

(if the temperature is given in Celsius, add

273 to change to Kelvin)
Example #3

At 45oC the rate constant of a first order

reaction is 0.8. At 135oC the rate
constant is 2.4. What is the activation
energy for this reaction?
Example #4
The rate of a reaction increased by a factor
of 10 when the temperature goes from
25oC to 50oC. What is the activation
energy of the reaction?
 Example #5
 Explain the following
 Liquid phase sintering
 Concentration  Hot pressing
gradient  Hot isostatic pressing
 Volume diffusion  Grain growth
 Grain boundary  Driving force
diffusion  Normal grain growth
 Diffusion distances  Abnormal grain
 Permeability growth
 Fick’s second law  Diffusion bonding
 Sintering
 Powder metallurgy