Effect of Temperature on Rate Constants in 1st and 2nd Order Reactions

Temperature plays a crucial role in determining the rate constants of chemical reactions. Let's compare the effect of temperature on the rate constants of 1st and 2nd order reactions.

1. 1st Order Reaction (k1)
- For a 1st order reaction, the rate constant (k1) is directly proportional to the activation energy (ea1).
- If the activation energy (ea1) of the 1st order reaction is greater than that of the 2nd order reaction (ea2), then k1 < k2="" at="" a="" certain="" />
- This implies that the rate of the 1st order reaction is slower than the 2nd order reaction at that temperature.

2. 2nd Order Reaction (K2)
- In a 2nd order reaction, the rate constant (K2) is influenced by the activation energy (ea2) as well.
- If ea1 > ea2, then the rate constant K2 for the 2nd order reaction is higher than k1 for the 1st order reaction at the same temperature.

Effect of Raising Temperature
- When the temperature is raised, the rate constants of both 1st and 2nd order reactions increase due to the higher energy of the molecules.
- The increase in temperature leads to a greater proportionate increase in the rate constant for the 2nd order reaction compared to the 1st order reaction.
- Therefore, as the temperature is raised, the difference between the rate constants of the 1st and 2nd order reactions becomes more pronounced, with K2 increasing at a faster rate than k1.

In conclusion, raising the temperature enhances the rate of reaction for both 1st and 2nd order reactions, with the rate constant of the 2nd order reaction increasing more significantly compared to the 1st order reaction when the activation energy of the latter is greater.