Arrhenius equation
Temperature-rate relationship
The Arrhenius equation is a formula in chemistry that describes how reaction rates depend on temperature.
It shows that reactions proceed faster at higher temperatures because more molecules have sufficient energy to overcome the activation barrier.
The equation relates rate constant to temperature, activation energy, and a pre-exponential factor: k = Ae^(-Ea/RT).
Named for Swedish chemist Svante Arrhenius.
Speed of chemical change
- energy barrierMinimum needed to react
- exponential decayProportional decrease over time
- reactivityTendency to chemically combine
- half-lifePeriod for fifty-percent reduction
Thermodynamic total heat quantity
- thermal energyMolecular kinetic activity
- heatTransferred thermal energy
- endothermicAbsorbing thermal energy
- exothermicReleasing energy as heat
isothermal · free energy · entropy · energy distribution · heat capacity
Agent enabling change
- enzymeProtein that hastens reactions
- substrateUnderlying supporting material
- active siteEnzyme region binding substrates
- inhibitorAgent that slows reactions
turnover · cofactor · selectivity · poisoning · promoter · adsorption
reaction rate
Speed of chemical change
- energy barrierMinimum needed to react
- exponential decayProportional decrease over time
- reactivityTendency to chemically combine
enthalpy
Thermodynamic total heat quantity
- thermal energyMolecular kinetic activity
- heatTransferred thermal energy
- endothermicAbsorbing thermal energy
exothermic · isothermal · free energy · entropy · energy distribution · heat capacity
catalyst
Agent enabling change
- enzymeProtein that hastens reactions
- substrateUnderlying supporting material
- active siteEnzyme region binding substrates
inhibitor · turnover · cofactor · selectivity · poisoning · promoter · adsorption
- Formulaschemical formula, quadratic formula, empirical formula, area formula, volume formula
- physical chemistrythermodynamics, kinetics, chemical equilibrium, reaction rates, entropy
- Chemistry LawsAvogadro's law, Boyle's law, gas laws, ideal gas law, Beer-Lambert law
Arrhenius equationquantum tunneling
Subatomic passage through classically forbidden regions