Lab#: SBA- ORR and MM

Title: Rates of Reaction -Disappearing cross

Aim: To determine the effect of concentration on the rate of reaction between sulphuric acid and
sodium thiosulphate.

Apparatus and materials: solution containing 16.0 gdm-3 sodium thiosulphate, 0.5 mol dm-3
sulphuric acid, stop clock, 2 50cm3 measuring cylinders, sheet of paper with cross drawn on it,
distilled water

Method:
1) 50 cm3 of sodium thiosulphate solution was placed into a beaker using a measuring cylinder
and the solution in a beaker was placed over the cross drawn on paper.
2) 50cm3 of sulphuric acid was added to this solution and the stop clock was started
immediately.
3) The time taken for the cross to disappear while looking at it from above the solution was
recorded.
4) Steps 1-3 were repeated but the volume of sodium thiosulphate was decreased by 5cm3 and
a corresponding volume of water was added to ensure that the total volume when mixed
was 100cm3 every time until 20 cm3 of sodium thiosulphate was used.
5) Rate of reaction was calculated using the formula Rate of Reaction (s-1) = 1/ time(s).
6) A graph of Volume of Sodium Thiosulphate (cm3 ) (x-axis) vs Time taken (seconds) (y-
axis) was plotted.
7) Furthermore, a graph of Rate of Reaction (1/t) (s-1) (x-axis) vs Volume of thiosulphate (y-
axis) was plotted.
8) The Rate of Reaction was discussed.
OBSERVATIONS:
TABLE 1: VOLUME OF SULPHURIC ACID, SODIUM THIOSULPHATE AND WATER
USED FOR DETERMINING THE EFFECT OF CONCENTRATION ON RATE OF
REACTION BETWEEN SULPHURIC ACID AND SODIUM THIOSULPHATE
Experiment Volume of Volume of Volume of Time (t)/ s Rate of
Number sulphuric sodium water/ cm3 Reaction
acid/ cm3 thiosulphate/ 1/time(1/t)/s-1
cm3
1 50 50 0
2 50 45 5
3 50 40 10
4 50 35 15
5 50 30 20
6 50 25 25
7 50 20 30

Treatment of Data:
Sample Calculation:
Rate of Reaction= 1/ time (s) = 1/67s = 0.015s-1
{Attach: Graph of Volume of Sodium Thiosulphate (cm3) (x-axis) vs Time taken (seconds) (y-
axis)
and Graph of Rate of Reaction (1/t) (s-1) (x-axis) vs Volume of thiosulphate (y-axis)}.

Discussion guidelines:

 Define what is meant by rate of reaction.

 Explain how the rate of a reaction can be measured.
 State the factors affecting rates of reaction.
 Explain how concentration affects the rate of a reaction.
 State the reaction taking place.
 State the equation for the reaction taking place:
Na2S2O3(aq) + H2SO4(aq)  Na2SO4(aq) + S(s) + H2O(l) + SO2(g)
 (Sodium thiosulphate reacts with sulphuric acid to form sodium sulphate, sulphur, water and
sulphur dioxide)
 State what occurs in the reaction to form the off-white opaque colour. (Hint: The yellowish-
white opaque colour was due to the precipitation of sulphur (a product) in the reaction.)
 Describe trends observed between the concentration of sodium thiosulphate and the rate of
reaction.
 Did the rate of reaction increase or decrease with respect to concentration of sodium
thiosulphate? Explain your answer.

(State Precautions, Sources of error, Assumptions and Limitations)

Reflection guidelines: What did you learn from this lab? What are the applications of rates of
reaction in industry?

Conclusion: