Effect of Temperature on Reaction Rates

Chemical kinetics is the study of the rates of chemical reactions and the factors that influence these rates. One fundamental concept in chemical kinetics is the role of temperature. Generally, increasing the temperature of a reaction increases the rate, as this provides molecules with greater kinetic energy. As a result, molecules are more likely to collide with the necessary energy to overcome the activation energy barrier. In a simple reaction, if the temperature is raised, the rate may double for every 10°C increase, but this can vary by reaction. Consider the following question about the effect of temperature on reaction rates:

What effect does increasing the temperature have on the rate of a chemical reaction?