Question

how do changes in temperature affect the rate of a reaction?

a. changing temperature does not affect the rate of a reaction because it does not change the activation energy.

b. increasing temperature decreases the reaction rate because the particles break down into nonreactive substances.

c. increasing temperature increases the reaction rate because the particles move faster and collide more often.

d. decreasing temperature increases the reaction rate because the particles are more likely to react when they collide.

Explanation:

To determine the correct answer, we analyze each option:

• Option A: Temperature does affect reaction rate (e.g., by changing particle kinetic energy), so A is incorrect.
• Option B: Increasing temperature increases, not decreases, reaction rate as particles gain energy, so B is incorrect.
• Option C: When temperature increases, particles have more kinetic energy, move faster, and collide more frequently (and with more energy), which increases the reaction rate. This matches the collision theory.
• Option D: Decreasing temperature decreases reaction rate as particles move slower and collide less, so D is incorrect.

Answer:

C. Increasing temperature increases the reaction rate because the particles move faster and collide more often.