Given below are four statements regarding the Arrhenius equation and reaction kinetics: A. As temperature T approaches infinity, the rate constant k approaches the pre-exponential factor A . B. For a reaction with zero activation energy, the rate constant is independent of temperature. C. The fraction of molecules with kinetic energy E_a decreases with an increase in temperature. D. A negative slope in the plot of k

Step-by-step solution

The Arrhenius equation is k = A e^ -E_a/RT . Statement A: As T , the term E_a RT 0 . Therefore, e^ -E_a/RT e^0 = 1 , and k A . Thus, statement A is correct. Statement B: If E_a = 0 , then e^ -E_a/RT = e^0 = 1 . The rate constant becomes k = A , which is independent of temperature. Thus, statement B is correct. Statement C: The fraction of molecules with kinetic energy E_a is given by e^ -E_a/RT . As temperature T increases, E_a RT decreases, making - E_a RT less negative. Consequently, the fraction e^ -E_a/RT incre