Question

Which of the following statement is FALSE? a. Lowering the free energy of the transition state can increase a reaction rate. b. An increase in temperature can result in an increased reaction rate. c. At a given temperature and time all molecules in a solution or a sample will have the same energy. d. The free energy barrier in a chemical reaction must be overcome in order for products to form.

Answer 1

Answer: Option (c) is the correct answer.

Explanation:

Activation energy or free energy of a transition state is defined as the  minimum amount of energy required to by reactant molecules to undergo a chemical reaction.

So, when activation energy is decreased then molecules with lesser amount of energy can also participate in the reaction. This leads to an increase in rate of reaction.  

Also, increase in temperature will help in increasing the rate of reaction.

Whereas at a given temperature, every molecule will have different energy because every molecule travels at different speed.

Hence, we can conclude that out of the given options false statement is that at a given temperature and time all molecules in a solution or a sample will have the same energy.