Question

Identify which one of these five factors that affect reaction rates is being illustrated in the situation: Tissue cells are stored in liquid nitrogen (79K) during transport.

Select one: Chemical nature of reactants

Presence of catalysts

Concentration of reactants

Temperature

Physical state of reactants

Answer 1

The answer is Temperature.

Explaination: Nitrogen is highly innert gas and it exists as liquid at very low temperature of about 79 K or -194 ^oC. So, liquid nitrogen is used to store certain chemicals/compounds as it completely freezes the reactivity/activity of the compound and at the same time preserving its chemical and physical properties. Tissue cells when stored in liquid nitrogen (79 K), slows down and even freezes/stops the cell division process of the cells. As 79 K (or -194 ^oC) is such an ultra low temperature, it slows down and stops cell division and and any cellular mechanism without affecting the cells. In simple words, reducing the temperature to 79 K slows down the rate of cell division process. So, the rate factor that illustrated here is temperature.