Factors that affect the rate of reactionEffect of temperature on rate

The rate of a chemical reaction can be changed by altering the temperature. If the temperature is increased:

• the reactant particles move more quickly
• they have more energy
• the particles collide successfully more often
• the rate of reaction increases
• [higher tier only] this is due to more particles having energy greater than or equal to the activation energy

Compared to a reaction at a low temperature, the graph line for the same reaction but at a higher temperature:

• has a steeper gradient at the start
• becomes horizontal sooner

This shows that the rate of reaction was greater at the higher temperature.