Increasing temperature has what effect on the rate of a reaction according to collision theory?

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Increasing temperature affects the rate of a chemical reaction according to collision theory primarily by increasing the frequency of collisions. When the temperature rises, the kinetic energy of the molecules involved in the reaction also increases. This leads to more frequent collisions between reactant molecules, as they are moving faster and are more likely to collide with one another.

Moreover, with higher temperatures, the collisions are not only more frequent but also of greater energy. This means that a larger proportion of the collisions will have enough energy to overcome the activation energy barrier, which is necessary for a reaction to occur. Therefore, increasing the temperature generally results in a faster rate of reaction.

While it's true that the rate of reaction may approximately double with every 10°C increase in temperature for many reactions, the exact doubling isn’t a universal rule, and it can vary depending on the specific reaction and conditions. Thus, the most accurate idea derived from collision theory is that higher temperatures increase both the frequency and energy of collisions, greatly enhancing the overall rate of reaction.

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