Arrhenius versus Exponential Model for Chemical Reactions
Arrhenius versus Exponential Model for Chemical Reactions
The temperature dependence of the rate of chemical reactions and biological processes is frequently described by the Arrhenius equation. This implies the existence of a log-linear relationship between the rate constant and the reciprocal of the absolute temperature, which has been used to calculate the "energy of activation". It is shown here that there are many conditions in which data generated with a simpler exponential model can be fitted with the Arrhenius equation and vice versa. This suggests that an Arrhenius plot's linearity is insufficient to establish that there is a temperature-independent "energy of activation" unless its existence is confirmed independently.