Multiple Choice
Which of the following best describes the effect of increasing temperature on the rate of a chemical reaction?
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15. Chemical Kinetics
Factors Influencing Rates
Multiple Choice
Which of the following best describes the most common effect of increasing temperature on the rate of a chemical reaction?
A
The reaction rate increases because more molecules have sufficient energy to overcome the activation energy barrier.
B
The reaction rate decreases because the activation energy increases with temperature.
C
The reaction rate decreases because molecules move more slowly at higher temperatures.
D
The reaction rate remains unchanged because temperature does not affect molecular collisions.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand that the rate of a chemical reaction depends on how often and how effectively reactant molecules collide.
Recall that increasing temperature generally increases the kinetic energy of molecules, causing them to move faster.
Recognize that faster-moving molecules collide more frequently and with greater energy, increasing the chance that collisions overcome the activation energy barrier.
Know that the activation energy is a fixed energy threshold that molecules must surpass for a reaction to occur; it does not increase with temperature.
Conclude that increasing temperature increases the reaction rate because more molecules have sufficient energy to overcome the activation energy barrier.
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