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Can a reaction have negative activation energy ? |
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Answer» Solution :According to Arrhenius eqn., `k="A e"^(-E_(a)//RT)`. If `E_(a)` were negative, the exponential factor can be written as `e^(X)` where `x=E_(a)//RT`. If `xltlt1`, we have `e^(x)=1+x+(x^(2))/(2!)+(x^(3))/(3!)+…=1+x""("NEGLECTING higher POWERS of x")` `=1+E_(a)//RT` `:.""k=A(1+E_(a)//RT)`, i.e., `kgtgtA` which is IMPOSSIBLE. Hence, `E_(a)` cannot be negative. |
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