Chemistry

Chemistry

Problem

A reaction has an activation energy of 60 kJ mol−160\,\text{kJ mol}^{-1}. At 298 K298\,\text{K}, experimental data show that 4.5 % of gas molecules have kinetic energy ≥60 kJ mol−1\geq 60\,\text{kJ mol}^{-1}. A catalyst lowers the activation energy to 40 kJ mol−140\,\text{kJ mol}^{-1}, for which 18 % of molecules have sufficient energy. By what factor does the frequency of successful collisions increase when the catalyst is present? Provide your answer as a numerical factor.

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