Can chemical reactions take place at absolute zero?

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SUMMARY

Chemical reactions cannot occur at absolute zero due to the lack of thermal energy required to overcome activation energy thresholds. At absolute zero, atoms transition into a state known as a Bose-Einstein Condensate, where their behavior deviates from typical atomic interactions. While some reactions may theoretically occur at extremely low temperatures, practical limitations prevent reaching absolute zero, making the question largely theoretical. The discussion highlights the impossibility of achieving absolute zero and the implications for chemical bonding.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of activation energy in chemical reactions
  • Knowledge of Bose-Einstein Condensate and its properties
  • Familiarity with thermodynamics and temperature scales
  • Basic principles of ionic bonding between elements
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the properties and implications of Bose-Einstein Condensates
  • Explore the concept of activation energy and its role in chemical reactions
  • Investigate thermodynamic laws related to temperature and energy
  • Study ionic bonding and its behavior at varying temperatures
USEFUL FOR

Students of chemistry, physicists, and anyone interested in the fundamental principles of thermodynamics and atomic behavior at extreme temperatures.

conradcook
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Title says it all. I've been wondering.

The argument is, is there a minimal temperature required for any chemical reaction to reach its activation threshold?

Or would the energylessness of the atoms prevent bonds from forming (or dissolving, I guess)?


Conrad.
 
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You can't reach absolute zero, so this question is moot.

Furthermore, if this reaction is exothermic, you won't be able to even approach absolute zero until the reaction is complete.
 
And to top it all off, atoms aren't atoms at absolute zero. They smear out into what's called a Bose-Einsteinian Condensate.
 
Well... I can't travel at the speed of light, but if I could, time wouldn't pass.

Dave,

I just looked that up on Wikipedia. That answers my question! -- Many thanks.

Conrad.
 
Let's at least clarify the idea.

Are there chemical reactions that can take place at any arbitrarily low temperature?

I'm thinking that a sodium and chlorine atom drifting toward each other very slowly will still combine ionically regardless of temperature.
 
conradcook said:
Well... I can't travel at the speed of light, but if I could, time wouldn't pass.

We can't get to the speed of light either, so one cannot claim that this is true. Whether or not you could is irrelevant. We can't do it and our equations for transforming between frames does not work if you try to use c as the velocity in the equation.
 

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