Key idea
Activation energy
Arrhenius : k = A e^(−E_a/RT)
Temperature strongly affects how many molecular encounters can access the required energetic region.
Activation energy
The key idea
A reaction pathway usually has an energetic barrier between reactants and products. Activation energy characterizes that barrier for a specified elementary process or model.
Why it matters
Temperature strongly affects how many molecular encounters can access the required energetic region.
A picture to remember
Key idea
Activation energy
Guided example
Activation energy
Temperature strongly affects how many molecular encounters can access the required energetic region.
Put it into practice
Activation energy
Choose a concrete case linked to Activation energy. Write down the known information, what you are trying to find, and the units. Then state the rule, model or trend you will use. If a calculation is involved, keep the units visible at every line; if it is conceptual, state what changes and what remains fixed.
Check your answer
A strong answer contains four things: the starting situation, the variable that changes, the direction or numerical result, and one check. The check can be a unit, an order of magnitude, a limiting case or a comparison with a familiar example.