Assignment on Rates of Reaction and Energy Changes

Shehryar iftikhar (40145391)

1) Investigating Rate of Reaction

(a) A student investigated the rate of a reaction between zinc and dilute
sulfuric acid. The products are zinc sulfate, ZnSO4, and hydrogen.

(i) Write the balanced equation for this reaction.

Zn+H2So4 →ZnSo4+H2

(ii) The student carried out two experiments. The same mass of zinc and
the same sized pieces of zinc were used in each experiment. The results
are shown in the table.

experiment 1 experiment 2
concentration of sulfuric acid / mol 0.5 1.5
dm–3
temperature / °C 20 40
rate of reaction slow fast

Evaluate these results, explaining the reasons why the rate of reaction in
experiment 2 is faster than the rate of reaction in experiment 1. In your
answer you should refer to the frequency and energy of collisions between
particles. (6)

The rate of reaction in experiment 2 is higher than experiment 1. This is because,

in experiment 2 the temperature was higher. This gives the particles more energy
to move, increasing the probability that they will collide. Also a higher temperature
give the particles more energy so there is more activation energy for the collision
to be successful. The concentration is also higher, increasing the amount of
particles in the solution allowing them to collide more frequently. Increasing the
rate of reaction. While in experiment 1, the temperature is lower giving less energy
to the particles and the concentration is lower, so there is less particles to collide,
lowering the rate of reaction.
(b) Zinc is reacted with copper sulfate solution. The equation for the reaction
is

Zn(s) + CuSO4(aq) → ZnSO4(aq) + Cu(s)

(i) What type of reaction is this?

displacement

(ii) This reaction is exothermic. What does this tell you about the relative
energies of the reactants and products in this reaction. (2)

The products would have less energy than the reactants due to the reactants
losing energy to the surroundings when making the products

(Total = 11marks)

2) Energy changes in chemical reactions and factors affecting rate

(a) When ammonium nitrate dissolves in water, the change is

endothermic. In an experiment, a thermometer is placed in some water in
a beaker and ammonium nitrate crystals are added. State what you would
see to show that the reaction is endothermic. (1)

The thermometer showing that the temperature is decreasing

(b) Hydrogen and chlorine react exothermically to form hydrogen

chloride.

H2 + Cl2 → 2HCl

Explain in terms of the breaking of bonds and the making of bonds why
this reaction is exothermic. (2)

Energy is released when new bonds are formed so the particles can collide with
each other to produce a product. In this case H2 is colliding with Cl2 to produce
2HCl.
(c) Marble chips (calcium carbonate) react with hydrochloric acid to produce
carbon dioxide.

(i) Write the balanced equation for this reaction. (2)

CaCO3 + 2HCl → CaCl2 + CO2+ H2O

(ii) Explain how using smaller sized marble chips affects the rate of this
reaction, when all the other conditions remain the same. (2)

Smaller sized chips have a greater surface area that allows more reactions to
occur as more space is available increasing rate of reaction

(iii) Explain, in terms of collisions between particles, how increasing the

concentration of the hydrochloric acid affects the rate of this reaction, when
all the other conditions remain the same. (2)

Increasing the concentrations means the number of particles will increase. If more
particles are there the chances for a a successful collision will be higher hence a
faster rate of reaction.

(Total = 9 marks)

3) Catalysts

A catalytic converter consisting of a honeycombe structure covered with

catalyst is used in car exhaust systems. Gases from the car engine (carbon
monoxide + unburnt hydrocarbons + air) pass into the catalytic converter. In
the catalytic converter, carbon monoxide and unburnt hydrocarbons are
changed into carbon dioxide and water vapour.

(a) What type of reaction occurs in the catalytic converter?

Oxidation

(b) It is important that the reactions in the catalytic converter happen

quickly.

(i) Explain why the catalyst is spread onto the honeycomb structure rather
than used as large pieces. (2)
The catalyst is used in a honeycomb shape rather than using a large piece to
increase the chance that the particles will meet on the catalyst, so it’s more likely
to collide increasing the rate of reaction.

(ii) Hot gases from the engine pass over the catalyst. Explain why the
catalyst is more effective when the engine has been running for a short time
rather than when the engine is first started. (2)

So the temperature is higher. The engine will produce thermal energy due to
friction between two surfaces on the engine. This increases the temperature
therefore, giving the particles more energy when they reach the catalyst,
increasing the rate of reaction.

(c) Carbon monoxide reacts with oxygen, O2, to form carbon dioxide in the
catalytic converter. Write the balanced equation for this reaction. (3)

2CO + O2 → 2CO2

(d) In the catalytic converter, a hydrocarbon is converted to carbon dioxide

and water, which are released as hot gases. Explain what type of reaction
occurs in terms of the heat energies of the reactants and products. (2)

(Total = 10 marks)

(4) Measuring heat changes in reactions and using bond energies

Ethanol can be used as a liquid fuel.

A student investigates how much heat energy is released when a known

mass of ethanol is burned. The apparatus is set up as shown in the
diagram.

A known volume of water is placed in a metal can. The temperature of the

water is measured. The ethanol is ignited and placed under the beaker so
that the flame is touching the beaker. The flame heats the water. The flame is
extinguished. The final temperature of the water is measured.
(a)The theoretical temperature rise for burning a given mass of alcohol is
82.4 °C.
In the experiment the actual temperature rise for burning the alcohol was
only 34.8 °C.

(i) Give two reasons why the actual temperature rise is much less than the
theoretical value. (2)

1. Some energy may have been lost to the surroundings.

2. The flame my be not strong enough.

(ii) Explain how the method described above could be improved to give a
temperature rise closer to the theoretical value. (2)

1. Cover the calorimeter with a lid.

2. Making the flame stronger.

(iii) The amount of heat energy used to raise the temperature of the water by
34.8 °C can be calculated using

heat energy = 210 × temperature rise

Calculate the amount of heat energy used. (1)

210 × 34.8 = 7308

(b)The energies of some common bonds are shown in the table below.
Covalent bond C=H O=H O=O C=O C=C C=C
Bond energy
414 458 497 798 346 602
(kJ mol−1)

(i) State what is meant by the energy of a bond. (1)

The energy needed to form or break a particular bond.

(ii) Use the bond energies in the table to calculate the energy change (in kJ
mol−1) that occurs when ethene is burned completely in oxygen. The
equation for the reaction is shown below.

602 + (4×414) + (3×497) - (4×798) + (4×458)

3749 - 5024 = -1275kJ/mol

(Total = 10 marks)

(Total for assessment = 40 marks)