The Arrhenius Equation

The Arrhenius Equation describes how the rate of a chemical reaction depends on temperature and activation energy. Essentially, it shows that increasing temperature typically makes reactions faster because more molecules have enough energy to overcome the energy barrier needed to react. The equation includes a constant, the activation energy, which is like the energy hurdle molecules must clear. As temperature rises, a greater proportion of molecules can surpass this hurdle, accelerating the reaction. This relationship helps chemists predict and control reaction speeds by adjusting temperature or understanding energy requirements.