What is Arrhenius behavior?

1. Jul 10, 2009

Topher925

I'm always reading about reactions or physical phenomena having Arrhenius behavior. But I can't figure out what that means. I obviously did a search and I learned a lot about the physical chemist Arrhenius, but nothing about what the adjective named after him means.

2. Jul 10, 2009

junglebeast

From this I would guess that one would describe a reaction in solution occurring between ions as Arrhenius behavior.

3. Jul 10, 2009

MATLABdude

Perhaps you're thinking of the Arrhenius relationship?
http://www.weibull.com/AccelTestWeb/arrhenius_relationship_chap_.htm

$$A e^{-\frac{E_{A}}{k_{B} T}}$$

Empirical relationship saying that things happen faster when it gets hotter ($k_{B}$, Boltzman's constant multiplied by Temperature), and faster when there's a low activation energy / energy barrier ($E_{A}$).

4. Jul 13, 2009

Topher925

YES! Thanks, I can't believe I didn't know this. It seems so obvious.

Last edited: Jul 13, 2009
5. Jul 13, 2009

chemisttree

It generally refers to the rate of reaction as Matlabdude indicated. In most discussions, it refers to the doubling of a given rate of reaction per 10oC increase in temperature.

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