What would be the effect of an ?????

Question

What would be the effect of an increase in temperature on the rate constant of :
a) The forward reaction
b) The reverse reaction?

Answer 1

Generally, an increase in temperature increases the rate constant for any reaction. But for an equilibrium reaction, it will have to depend the nature of the forward and reverse reaction.

For an increase in temp:

f forward reaction is endothermic, by Le Chatelier's Principle, system will remove excess heat and hence favour the forward reaction. Position of equilibrium shifts right, so the rate constant of forward reaction will increase more than that of the reverse reaction.

If forward reaction is exothermic, system will favour the reverse reaction (which is endothermic) and the rate constant of the reverse reaction will increase more than that of the forward reaction.

Answer 2

For any single chemical reaction, increasing the temperature will increase the rate constant for both reactions. Even with a reaction at equilibrium, the rate or speed of each reaction will increase. The amount of reactants and products will change and a new equilibrium will form and the rate at which the forward reaction occurs (converting reactants to products) and the rate at which the reverse reaction occurs (converting products into reactants) will both increase.

Answer 3

You have to know the reaction to know how an increase in temperature will effect it.

A rate constant, however sems to indicate that it stays constant.