For many reactions occurring in solution, increasing the temperature by 10 °C most commonly has which qualitative effect on the reaction rate?
a) It increases the rate by a factor of about ten because the rate is directly proportional to temperature in kelvin.
b) It increases the rate by roughly 10% since temperature only slightly raises molecular kinetic energy.
c) It approximately doubles the rate because a larger fraction of molecules possess the required activation energy.
d) It leaves the rate essentially unchanged because the rate constant is independent of temperature.