Which statement best describes the relationship between activation energy and rate of reaction?

Question

A.Increasing the activation energy can increase the rate of a reaction.
B.Reducing the activation energy can increase the rate of a reaction.
C.There is no relationship between activation energy and rate of a reaction.

D.Reducing the activation energy can decrease the rate of a reaction.

Answer 1

B.Reducing the activation energy can increase the rate of a reaction

 

This has nothing to do with enzymes. It is true that enzymes provide an alternate mechanism with a lower activation energy, but that wasn’t part of the question. The lower the activation energy, the faster the reaction is likely to be. 

Answer 2

Hi Arissa,

 

Enzymes function as biological catalysts - enhance a reaction without being changed in the process. Activation energy is the energy required to get the reactants into a transition state. The higher the energy of activation slower would be the reaction. Enzymes function by reducing this energy of activation making the reaction faster and more efficient.

 

I think this should help you answer the above question.

 

Best

Sanjay