The activation energy for the reaction in this lab is determined by investigating the effects of temperature on reaction rate. Assuming a negative activation energy, Ea, what effect will increasing the temperature have on the rate constant, k? a. Increasing temperature will decrease the rate constant, k. b. Increasing temperature will not have an effect on the rate constant, k. c. Increasing temperature will increase the rate constant, k.

a. Increasing the temperature would decrease the rate constant, k.

Explanation:

The negative activation energy would result when there is an increase in temperature. The effect of this temperature increment on the rate of reaction is a decrease.

Reactions with a negative activation energy proceed in an environment with no limiting factors. The chances that the molecules can collide with each other is also considerably reduced because they are no longer in the space where a collision can occur. The resultant effect on the rate constant is a decrease.

"among the transition metal elements, manganese and zinc have a slight lowering of electronegativities. the reason behind this is that the nuclear charges of these elements are slightly weaker than the other transition metal elements due to the way their valence electrons are filled up. both manganese and zinc have their valence electrons filled up to the 4th shell with 1 pair of electrons (4s2) completely occupying it. although the electrons in the 3rd shell (3d) are yet to be paired since the outer most shell is filled up, the ability of the nucleus to attract electrons is lessened. hence,   the electronegativity (or the ability to attract electrons) is lessened."