The activation energy for the reaction in this lab is determined by investigating the effects of temperature on reaction rate. Assuming a negative activation energy, Ea, what effect will increasing the temperature have on the rate constant, k? a. Increasing temperature will decrease the rate constant, k. b. Increasing temperature will not have an effect on the rate constant, k. c. Increasing temperature will increase the rate constant, k.

The negative activation energy would result when there is an increase in temperature. The effect of this temperature increment on the rate of reaction is a decrease.

Reactions with a negative activation energy proceed in an environment with no limiting factors. The chances that the molecules can collide with each other is also considerably reduced because they are no longer in the space where a collision can occur. The resultant effect on the rate constant is a decrease.