TOPIC 11: Teaching plan 11A.

6 Effect of temperature on the rate constant

Student Book links Specification links Links to prior learning Suggested teaching order
● 11A.6 ● 11.10 ● Effect of temperature on the 1. Using the Arrhenius equation to evaluate the effect
rate of reaction of temperature on the rate.
Learning objectives 2. Finding the activation energy using experimental
data and graphical methods.
Students should be able to:
● use the Arrhenius equation to explain the effect of temperature on the rate constant of a
reaction
● use graphical methods to find the activation energy from experimental data.
Key terms Practical skills
There are no new key terms in this section. Suggested activity
● Core Practical 10: Finding the activation energy of
a reaction.
Maths skills Digital learning ideas
● Recognise and make use of appropriate units in calculations (B.0.0).
● Recognise and use expressions in decimal and ordinary form (B.0.1).
● Use calculators to find and use power functions (B.0.4).
● Use an appropriate number of significant figures (B.1.1).
● Find arithmetic means (B.1.2).
● Change the subject of an equation (B.2.2).
● Substitute numerical values into algebraic expressions using appropriate units for physical
quantities (B.2.3).
● Solve algebraic equations (B.2.4).
● Translate information between graphical, numerical and algebraic forms (B.3.1).
● Plot two variables from experimental or other data (B.3.2).
● Determine the slope and intercept of a linear graph (B.3.3).
● Calculate rate of change for a graph showing a linear relationship (B.3.4).
● Draw and use the slope of a tangent to a curve as a measure of rate of change (B.3.5).

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Pre-unit homework suggestions
● Recall what you know about the effect of temperature on the rate of reaction.
Suggested starter activities Equipment Teacher notes
1. Students practise drawing Maxwell–Boltzmann Mini whiteboard
distributions for T1 (°C) and T2 (°C).
2. Students talk for one minute about the effect of rate on
temperature. If they hesitate or make a mistake, another
student takes over.
3. Students match key terms related to this topic to the Cards Prepare a series of cards: one set displaying the key
corresponding definitions. terms and the other set displaying the definitions.
The cards should be related to the material on
temperature and rates that students studied in Year 1
of this A level course.
Suggested main activities Equipment Teacher notes
1. Students read Section 11A.6 in the Student Book and try Student Book Use the Arrhenius equation to show why an increase in
to understand the Arrhenius equation and how it is used temperature increases the rate of reaction.
to determine Ea.
2. Given experimental data, students should practise Check students’ graphs and calculations of Ea and
1 address any misconceptions or areas of difficulty.
drawing graphs plotting against lnk and calculating
T
– Ea
the gradient .
R
3. Students determine the activation energy for the reaction Core Practical 10 sheet
between bromide and bromate(V) ions.

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Suggested plenary activities Equipment Teacher notes
1. Ask students, ‘Will temperature changes affect the rate Students should be able to follow the logic through
constant?’ here; however, there is a common misconception that
a constant is not changed by anything.
2. Students answer the questions at the end of Section
11A.6 in the Student Book.
3. Students create a step-by-step walk through for a
calculation involving Ea.
They should explain each step and show all their working
out.
Homework suggestions
● Answer past paper questions that involve drawing graphs in order to work out Ea.
● Answer questions related to the effect of temperature on reaction rate.
Wider reading
● Find out what the frequency factor is.
● Research the relationship between the lock and key hypothesis of enzymes and the Arrhenius equation.
Support ideas
● Reactions with a large Ea are slow but will increase in speed with an increase in temperature.
● Stress the difference between an intermediate and a transition state.
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● Students find it challenging drawing graphs of T against lnk and working out the tangent in order to calculate Ea. You should allow plenty of
opportunities for students to practise this.
Extension ideas
● Using the Arrhenius equation to look at the effect of a catalyst on the rate of reaction.
Potential misconceptions
● Students often believe that a constant is not changed by anything; however, the rate constant is defined as at a constant temperature, so increasing the
temperature will always increase the rate constant.

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Links to future learning
Entropy and energetics (Topic 12)
Notes

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