Determine activation energy from rate constants measured at two temperatures.
Two rate constants at two temperatures determine the activation energy uniquely. Enzyme-catalysed reactions have lower barriers than the uncatalysed equivalents, which is precisely how catalysis accelerates them. Activation energy predicts how sensitive a process is to temperature control, which drives both reactor design and shelf-life estimation.
Activation Energy
Ea = R ln(k₂/k₁) ÷ (1/T₁ − 1/T₂)
Ea = R ln(k₂/k₁) ÷ (1/T₁ − 1/T₂) Two rate constants at two temperatures determine the activation energy uniquely. Enzyme-catalysed reactions have lower barriers than the uncatalysed equivalents, which is precisely how catalysis accelerates them.
Activation energy predicts how sensitive a process is to temperature control, which drives both reactor design and shelf-life estimation.
This calculator takes 4 inputs: Rate constant at temperature 1, Temperature 1, Rate constant at temperature 2, Temperature 2. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic starting point — replace them with figures from your own environment for a result you can act on.