Rate of Reaction and Temperature

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Explain why the rate of reaction is increased by higher temperatures

  • Rate of reaction: The rate of change of concentration.
  • At room temperature, the rate of the synthesis of ammonia is very slow.
  • Higher temperatures increase the kinetic energy of the reactant molecules, giving a greater proportion of the molecules energies greater than the activation energy, and thus causing a greater number of molecules to react.
  • Thus, higher temperatures increase the rate of the reaction.
  • Because the rate of a reaction operates in both directions, a change in rate has no effect on the position of the equilibrium.