Term: Arrhenius equation https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.A00446 Definition: An equation that represents the dependence of the rate constant k of a reaction on the absolute temperature T: \[k = A\ \text{e}^{\frac{-E_{\text{a}}}{R\ T}}\] In its original form the pre-exponential factor A and the activation energy Ea are considered to be temperature-independent. Related Terms: 1) modified arrhenius equation (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.M03963). 2) rate constant (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.R05138). 3) pre-exponential factor (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.P04811). 4) activation energy (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.A00102). Source: PAC, 1990, 62, 2167. 'Glossary of atmospheric chemistry terms (Recommendations 1990)' on page 2175 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199062112167) Citation: 'Arrhenius equation' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.A00446 License: The IUPAC Gold Book is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike CC BY-SA 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) for individual terms. Disclaimer: The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is continuously reviewing and, where needed, updating terms in the Compendium of Chemical Terminology (the IUPAC Gold Book). Users of these terms are encouraged to include the version of a term with its use and to check regularly for updates to term definitions that you are using.