Activation Energy Calculator

Arrhenius Equation Calculator

Calculate activation energy using the Arrhenius equation with detailed step-by-step solutions.

Input Parameters

At temperature T₁

At temperature T₂

Arrhenius Equation:
ln(k₂/k₁) = -Eₐ/R × (1/T₂ - 1/T₁)
R = 8.314 J/(mol·K)

What is Activation Energy?

Activation energy (Eₐ) is the minimum energy required for a chemical reaction to occur.

Arrhenius Equation:

k = A × e^(-Eₐ/RT)

where k is rate constant, A is pre-exponential factor, R is gas constant, T is temperature

Two-Point Form:

ln(k₂/k₁) = -Eₐ/R × (1/T₂ - 1/T₁)

Features

  • Step-by-step calculations
  • Arrhenius equation solver
  • Multiple temperature units (K, °C)
  • Multiple energy units (J/mol, kJ/mol, kcal/mol)
  • Automatic unit conversion
  • Rate constant ratio calculation
  • Result interpretation
  • Copy results
  • Quick examples

Key Concepts

Rate Constant (k):

Measure of reaction speed at a given temperature

Temperature (T):

Must be in Kelvin for calculations

Gas Constant (R):

8.314 J/(mol·K)

Activation Energy:

Energy barrier for reaction to proceed

Typical Values

Fast reactions:

Eₐ < 50 kJ/mol

Moderate reactions:

50-100 kJ/mol

Slow reactions:

Eₐ > 100 kJ/mol

Very slow reactions:

Eₐ > 200 kJ/mol

Use Cases

  • Chemical kinetics studies
  • Reaction mechanism analysis
  • Catalyst effectiveness evaluation
  • Temperature dependence studies
  • Shelf life predictions
  • Process optimization
  • Quality control in manufacturing
  • Pharmaceutical stability testing

Applications

Real-World Applications:

Chemistry:

Determine reaction mechanisms and pathways

Food Science:

Predict shelf life and spoilage rates

Pharmaceuticals:

Drug stability and degradation studies

Materials Science:

Polymer degradation and aging