What effect does a higher temperature have on the rate of a chemical reaction?

A higher temperature generally increases the rate of a chemical reaction. This happens because raising the temperature provides more energy to the reactant molecules, which results in them moving faster. As the molecules collide with each other more frequently and with greater energy, the likelihood of successful collisions increases.

These successful collisions are essential for breaking chemical bonds and forming new ones, thus driving the reaction forward. In many cases, increasing temperature can also provide the necessary activation energy for the reaction to occur, further promoting the reaction rate.

This concept is fundamental in understanding how temperature influences chemical kinetics and is applicable in various biological processes as well, where enzyme activity can be significantly affected by temperature increases.