A certain elementary reaction has an activation energy of
CHEMISTRY · Single correct · A Level · Chemistry · Kinetics · Kinetics
Problem
A certain elementary reaction has an activation energy of 60kJmol−1. Sample X of the reactant mixture is at 290 K, and sample Y is at 310 K. Which of the following statements correctly compares the fraction of collisions that can lead to reaction in the two samples?
(a) Sample Y has the larger fraction, but in both samples fewer than half of the collisions can overcome the activation energy.
(b) The fractions are approximately the same because the activation energy is much larger than the thermal energy in either sample.
(c) Sample Y has the larger fraction, and in that sample more than half of the collisions can overcome the activation energy.
(d) The fraction in sample Y is roughly twice that in sample X, because increasing temperature by about 20\,K nearly doubles the average kinetic energy per molecule.