Question about activation energy and reaction rates.

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between activation energy, reaction rates, and the effects of temperature and solvation on these factors. Participants explore how these concepts interact in the context of nucleophilic reactions and the apparent contradictions that arise from different interpretations of energy changes.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant asserts that increasing temperature leads to higher kinetic energy, resulting in more collisions and an increased reaction rate.
  • Another participant references a source that suggests stronger solvation of nucleophiles requires more energy to remove them from their solvation shell, potentially lowering the reaction rate.
  • A participant expresses confusion over the contradiction between the two ideas, noting that both scenarios involve energy increases but yield opposite effects on reaction rates.
  • One participant argues that the energies involved in the two scenarios are fundamentally different, implying that they cannot be directly compared.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus; there are competing views regarding the relationship between temperature, solvation, and reaction rates, with some expressing confusion over the apparent contradictions.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention different types of energy, such as internal energy and activation energy, but do not clarify how these concepts interrelate, leaving some assumptions and definitions unresolved.

yungwun22
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Homework Statement


I know that temperature and kinetic energy are related, so as temperature increases the energy of the reactants as well as the amount of collisions and bonds formed, increases. I take this as meaning that the rate increases. But I also read in my organic book that in nucleophilic reactions, the stronger the solvation of the nucleophile, the greater the energy required to remove the nucleophile from it's solvation shell to reach the solvation state will be, lowering the rate of reaction. These ideas seem contradictory.



Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


I think the first idea has to do more with internal energy of the system and the second with activation energy in terms of maybe Gibbs free energy or enthalpy, but I'm not too sure.
 
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You are comparing apples and oranges. Try to elaborate on why do you think these ideas are contradictory.
 
Borek said:
Try to elaborate on why do you think these ideas are contradictory.

Because the rate increases in the first and decreases in the second, but that there is an increase of energy in both scenarios. I felt that there should be a high reaction rate in the second scenario as well.
 
These are completely different energies, so you can't compare them.
 

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