What is the Activation Energy for Juice Spoiling?

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The discussion revolves around estimating the activation energy for the spoiling of orange juice at different temperatures. At room temperature (20°C), orange juice spoils in about 64 hours, while at 3°C, it lasts three times longer. Participants suggest using the Arrhenius equation to calculate the activation energy, noting that the ratio of rate constants at the two temperatures is sufficient for this calculation. A participant encounters issues with their calculations but identifies a mistake related to the refrigerator temperature. The final answers for the activation energy and spoilage time at 40°C are 43.46 kJ mol^(-1) and approximately 20.47 hours, respectively.
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Homework Statement


At room temperature (20°C) orange juice gets spoilt in about 64 hours. In a refrigerator at 3°C juice can be stored three times as long before it gets spoilt. Estimate (a) the activation energy of the reaction that causes the spoiling of juice. (b) How long should it take for juice to get spoilt at 40°C?

(Answer: (a)43.46 kJ mol^(-1) (b) 20.47 hour)

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


I guess I have to use the Arrhenius equation here but I don't have the rate constants at the two temperatures. How am I supposed to solve this?
 
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You have a ratio between the rate constants at two different temperatures. That is sufficient to calculate the activation energy, even if you do not know the other parameters.
 
mfb said:
You have a ratio between the rate constants at two different temperatures. That is sufficient to calculate the activation energy, even if you do not know the other parameters.

If ##k_1## is the rate constant at 20°C and ##k_2## at 3°C, does that mean ##k_1/k_2=3##?
 
mfb said:
Sure.

I tried that but I end up with a wrong answer.

From Arrhenius equation,
\ln\frac{k_1}{k_2}=-\frac{E_a}{R}\left(\frac{1}{T_1}-\frac{1}{T_2}\right)
Plugging in the values and solving for ##E_a##, I get a wrong answer. Here's the calculation:
Wolfram|Alpha
 
Just a calculation error in the fridge temperature.
fixed
 
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mfb said:
Just a calculation error in the fridge temperature.
fixed

:-p

Thank you!
 
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