The rate constant of a reaction is measured at different temperatures. A plot of the natural log of the rate constant as a function of the inverse of the temperature (in kelvins) yields a straight line with a slope of -8.55 * 10³ K^-1.

What is the activation energy (E_a) for the reaction?

a) -71 kJ/mol

b) 71 kJ/mol

c) 1.0 kJ/mol

d) -1.0 kJ/mol