# A food manufacturer stores freshly pressed fruit juice in a cold warehouse at 2 °C rather than at room temperature (20 °C). The juice spoils more slowly at the lower temperature because the chemical reactions that cause spoilage are slower. Explain, using the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution, why the spoilage reactions are slower at 2 °C than at 20 °C.

> Edexcel A-Level Chemistry (9CH0) — 9.1 Rates and the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution · Explain · 5 marks

> A food manufacturer stores freshly pressed fruit juice in a cold warehouse at 2 °C rather than at room temperature (20 °C). The juice spoils more slowly at the lower temperature because the chemical reactions that cause spoilage are slower.

## Mark scheme (5 marks)

1. At the lower temperature (2 °C), the particles have less kinetic energy (on average) / particles move more slowly
2. The Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution shifts so that fewer particles have energy greater than or equal to the activation energy at 2 °C compared to 20 °C
3. Fewer successful collisions occur per unit time / fewer collisions have enough energy to result in a reaction
4. The frequency of collisions is also lower at 2 °C because particles move more slowly
5. Therefore the rate of the spoilage reaction is lower at 2 °C, so the juice takes longer to spoil

## Key terms

- [Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/maxwell-boltzmann-distribution)

## Related

- [Revision notes for Edexcel A-Level Chemistry (9CH0)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-food-manufacturer-stores-freshly-pressed-b5ac4996) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.