If E_a for a certain biological reaction is 50.kJ/mol, by what factor (how many times)will the rate of this reaction increase when body temperature increases from 37°C (normal)to 40°C (fever)?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to the Arrhenius equation, k (rate constant) is proportional to e^(-ES/R*T), where ES is the activation energy, R is the gas constant, and T is the temperature in kelvin. As the temperature increases from 37°C to 40°C, the difference in temperature in kelvin is approximately 3 K. Therefore, the factor by which the rate constant increases is e^(ES/R*(1/T1 - 1/T2)) = e^(ES/R*(1/310 - 1/313)) = e^(-ES/R*(3/96450)) ≈ 1.20.

If Ea for a Certain Biological Reaction Is 50

If E_a for a Certain Biological Reaction Is 50