F1.1 Basic Terminology Formulas

Basic Terminology: The reaction rate constant k is dependent on temperature. Its dependency is well represented by the Arrhenius expression given below:

Where E = energy of activation, R = universal gas constant, T = temperature, A = frequency factor.

A plot of ln(k) versus 1/T yields a straight line with slope -E/R and intercept ln(A). Alternately, a method of least squares can be used to find these unknowns. Slope, m, is given by Equation 1.2.

Whereas intercept, I, is given by Equation 1.3.