Question

What is the effect of temperature on the rate constant of a reaction? How can
Does this effect of temperature on rate constant be represented quantitatively?

Answer 1

We know that the rate of reaction is the concentration of each reactant is taken as unity i.e.,$1\;mol{L^{ - 1}}$. For a reaction, it is constant at a particular temperature and independent of the concentration of the reactant.

Complete Step by step answer: We know that rate of reaction and rate constant depends upon many factors. We say both because rate of reaction is proportional to rate constant. That is greater the value of rate constant, faster is the reaction.
Now, coming into the temperature value of the rate constant is definite for a reaction at a particular temperature. With the change of temperature, the rate constant also changes. On a general case we can say that the rate of the reaction and rate constant becomes double for every ten degree rise in temperature
That is with an increasing temperature the is directly proportional to 2 times for every rise in temperature.
We can represent this effect of temperature on rate constant can be represented quantitatively by Arrhenius equation,
$K = A{e^{ - \dfrac{{{E_a}}}{{RT}}}}$
Where K is the rate constant,
A is the Arrhenius factor or the frequency factor
R is the gas constant
T is the temperature, and
${E_a}$ is the energy of activation for the reaction

Note: Also there are some more characteristics of rate constant.
(i) As the value of rate constant is independent of concentration of reaction.
(ii) Unit of rate constant depend upon the order of reaction
(iii) Presence of a catalyst changes the rate of reaction and thus rate constant as well, by lowering the activation energy.