Question

Which of the following potential energy diagrams represents the reaction with the lowest activation energy?

Answer 1

@aaronq ?

Answer 2

oh so are you thinking it is B as well ?

Answer 3

B has the largest \(E_a\)

Answer 4

then to find the lowest activation energy does the reactants or products have to be higher on the graph?

Answer 5

You're looking for the "smallest hill"

Answer 6

when moving from the left to the right

Answer 7

D is not an option because that is not a possible reaction energy profile.

Answer 8

then would A be the one will the next smallest hill?

Answer 9

yes

Answer 10

yay thank you! also what would the graph look like if it was in the process of melting ?

Answer 11

what kind of graph?

Answer 12

like the ones above a potential energy diagram

Answer 13

hmm well it can't look like that because \(\sf melting\) is not a chemical reaction.

Answer 14

hmm.. the question asks Which of the following potential energy diagrams represents the process of melting?

Answer 15

if it is melting should it go down?

Answer 16

The only possible ones are A and B

I would go for A for the simple fact that there is no transition state in a physical change.

Answer 17

i agree i was thinking C at first why not C ?

Answer 18

Oh wait i was thinking freezing. You are right, it would have to be C or D

Answer 19

oh! then i going to go with C what do you think?

Answer 20

I would agree with C. Though i dont understand why most of these show transition states.