# Chemical kinetics of a reaction, rate constant, and activation energy

From the Arrhenius equation in kinetics of reactions,

$$k = A\exp{\left(-\frac{E_\mathrm{a}}{RT}\right)}$$

Which tells us about the temperature dependence on rate constant of a reaction.

Activation energy is dependent on the temperature (as it is the energy difference between the average energy of the reactants and threshold energy, and since the average energy of reactants depends on the temperature, activation energy also should depend on temperature) Is my assumption that activation energy depends on temperature correct?

Moreover, is there any case where activation energy is zero or negative? (like in the case of spontaneous reaction or $E_\mathrm{a} = 0$) I feel that whenever activation energy is zero, all the molecules undergoing collisions should form products successfully, but this case won't occur.

But when we substitute $E_\mathrm{a} = 0$, in the Arrhenius equation, we get the result as $k = A$, i.e. rate constant will be equal to pre-exponential factor.

The rate constant and the activation energy tell us how fast the reaction proceeds (moles/sec), not whether it is spontaneous. The higher the temperature, the higher the rate constant and, for specified concentrations of reactants, the faster the reaction. The rate of a reaction always increases with increasing temperature (higher rate of collisions), so the activation energy is always positive. As the temperature increases, the rate constant approaches the pre-exponential factor (E/T approaches zero). For some reactions, the activation energy is very low, so even at lower temperatures, the rate constant approaches the pre-exponential factor. The activation energy has a weak dependence on temperature, and, in practice, this temperature dependence is usually neglected.

• But when we consider the reaction between two oppositely charged gaseous ions, this reaction almost doesn't require any kind of activation energy, as they readily attract each other making the reaction spontaneous. So, for these kind of spontaneous reactions, can we assume that activation energy is zero. Jan 11 '16 at 14:19
• Moreover other than the kinetic and potential energies, what are the other energies that sum up in the Activation energy? Lastly what exactly is meant by reaction coordinate that is plotted on the X-axis in the energy diagram. Please clarify these doubts. Jan 11 '16 at 14:50
• With regard to your first comment, the answer is yes. With regard to your second comment, my background does not permit me to respond about all the different contributions to the activation energy, but certainly, potential and kinetic energies are part of it. Regarding the energy diagram, it is only schematic, and the x axis only qualitatively represents the progress in moving from the reactants to the products. Jan 11 '16 at 15:19
• So, when there is an increase in temperature of a reaction ,what can be concluded about the activation energy of the reaction ? Decreases or it remains constant.... Because according to the concept the average energy of the reactant molecules increase as the temperature increases, the transition state or the activated complex state is not changed. so, theoretically the activation energy decreases but practically it should remain constant as the transition state is unaltered. Please explain this point. Jan 11 '16 at 16:37
• E doesn't increase (substantially), but E/T decreases, so k increases. Jan 11 '16 at 17:20

Although Chester Miller has very well answered the question, I would like to add a (rather long) comment to the case of zero barrier. His answer says that

(...) [t]he rate of a reaction always increases with increasing temperature (higher rate of collisions), so the activation energy is always positive. (...) [emphasis added]

Although I believe this to be perfectly correct in the context of Arrhenius (and Eyring) theory, Marcus theory allows (slightly) different behaviour. Here, the rate constant for an electron-transfer reaction follows the equation:

$$k_{et} = \frac{2 \pi}{\hbar} |H_{AB}|^2 \frac{1}{\sqrt{4 \pi \lambda k_B T}} \exp \left(-\frac{(\lambda + \Delta G^\circ)^2}{4 \lambda k_B T}\right)$$

$\lambda$ is the so called total reorganization energy accompanying a charge redistribution. There might be cases where $\Delta G^\circ$ (total Gibbs free energy change for the electron-transfer) equals $-\lambda$, and we get something like the following for a series of similar reactions:

Figure 1. Intramolecular electron-transfer rate constants as a function of free energy change. Electrons are transferred from biphenyl ions to different acceptor groups (image source, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1984, 106, 3049-3050).

The maximum above is associated to an essentially barrierless electron-transfer. Thus, to answer (part of) the original question,

(...) Moreover, is there any case where activation energy is zero or negative? (...)

Marcus theory allows zero, but not negative, barriers.