Why does increasing temperature generally increase the rate of chemical reactions?

Increasing temperature generally increases the rate of chemical reactions because heat energy causes the particles to move faster. When the temperature rises, the kinetic energy of the molecules also increases, leading to more vigorous movement. This heightened activity results in a greater frequency of collisions between reactant molecules.

Furthermore, not only does increased temperature enhance the number of collisions, but it also raises the energy of those collisions. At higher temperatures, a larger proportion of the molecules collide with enough energy to overcome the activation energy barrier required for a reaction to occur. This combination of increased collision frequency and energy contributes significantly to the acceleration of reaction rates.