When the above reaction occurs at 45¬°C, the rate constant is . When the same reaction occurs at 50¬°C, the rate constant is .
(10) What is the activation energy of the reaction?
This problem requires the use of the Arrhenius equation.
In this reaction the temperature is 45 ¬°C=318.15 K and the rate constant is given. When these values are substituted into equation (1), two unknowns remain: the Arrhenius parameters A and Ea . A second equation can be obtained by substituting the values at 50¬° C=323.15 K into equation (1). Two equations in two unknowns can be solved as simultaneous
A is constant for the reaction. Therefore, if equation (3) is subtracted from equation (2), the terms involving A cancel: