How does temperature affect the rate of reaction?

For a reaction to occur particles reacting must have a neccessary activation energy (kinetic energy). As temperature gets higher, so does the kinetic energy of particles, which can be ilustrated with a Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution diagram. This means that more particles can overcome this energy and succesfully react as chances of a properly oriented collision are higher. It is sometimes said that the reaction rate doubles with a 10 degree raise in temperature.
For Higher Level Students the Arrhenius equation and graphs can be analysed to further explain the topic.

Related Chemistry IB answers

All answers ▸

How do i determine which compound is more ionic?


Butan-2-ol cannot be directly converted to 1,2-dibromobutane. The conversion can be carried out in two stages by first converting butan-2-ol into X, which is then reacted with bromine.(continued in answers)


In order for a chemical reaction to occur the particles must...


How is the bonding in NH3 and what does this entail for its electron-domain geometry and molecular geometry?