Common sense and chemical intuition suggest that the higher the temperature, the faster a given chemical reaction will proceed. Quantitatively this relationship between the rate a reaction proceeds and its temperature is determined by the Arrhenius Equation. At higher temperatures, the probability that two molecules will collide is higher. This higher collision rate results in a higher kinetic energy, which has an effect on the activation energy of the reaction. The activation energy is the amount of energy required to ensure that a reaction happens.

This calculator calculates the effect of temperature on reaction rates using the Arrhenius equation.

k=A*exp^(-E_a/R*T)

where k is the rate coefficient, A is a constant, E_a is the activation energy, R is the universal gas constant, and T is the temperature (in kelvin).

R has the value of 8.314 x 10^-3 kJ mol^-1K^-1

You should use this calculator to investigate the influence of temperature on the rate coefficient.

This calculator allows you to perform three different calculations:

Calculate A given k, E_a, and T
Calculate k given A, E_a, and T
Calculate E_a given A, k, and T

Sample Problem:

The reaction:

2NO₂(g) -----> 2NO(g) + O₂(g)

has a rate coefficient of 1.0 x 10^-10 s^-1 at 300 K and an activation energy of 111 kJ mol^-1. What is the rate coefficient at 273 K?

(Solution: calculate the value of A for a temperature of 300 K, then use the calculated value of A to calculate k at a temperature of 273 K. We generally assume that A and the activation energy E_ado not vary with temperature).

Calculate k given A, E_a, and T:

Calculate E_a given A, k, and T:

Back to the kinetics page.

Developed by

The Shodor Education Foundation, Inc.
in cooperation with the Department of Chemistry,
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

The Arrhenius Equation

Background reading:

Sample Problem:

Calculate A given k, E_a, and T:

Input Value(s):

Result(s):

Calculate k given A, E_a, and T:

Input Value(s):

Result(s):

Calculate E_a given A, k, and T:

Input Value(s):

Result(s):

The Arrhenius Equation

Background reading:

Sample Problem:

Calculate A given k, Ea, and T:

Input Value(s):

Result(s):

Calculate k given A, Ea, and T:

Input Value(s):

Result(s):

Calculate Ea given A, k, and T:

Input Value(s):

Result(s):

Calculate A given k, E_a, and T:

Calculate k given A, E_a, and T:

Calculate E_a given A, k, and T: