CSEC CHEMISTRY SECTION A - RATES OF REACTIONS

RATES OF REACTION

Topic Objectives:
10.1 define rate of reaction;
The change in concentration of reactant or product with time at a stated temperature.

10.2 identify the factors which affect the rate of reaction;

Factors:
(a) concentration;
(b) temperature;
(c) surface area;
(d) presence or absence of a catalyst.

The danger of explosive combustion of finely divided substances, for example, flour in flour mills.
Consideration of the change in rate of reaction as the reaction proceeds.

10.3 predict the effect of factors on rates of reaction from given data;

10.4 interpret graphical representation of data obtained in studying rates of reaction.

Include graphs of
(a) Concentration (volume; mass) vs. time;
(b) Concentration Vs 1/t5
(c) rate vs time.

Different reactions can occur at different rates. Reactions that happen slowly have a low rate of
reaction. Reactions that happen quickly have a high rate of reaction. For example, the
chemical weathering of rocks is a very slow reaction: it has a low rate of reaction. Explosions
are very fast reactions: they have a high rate of reaction.
❖ Watch video: Collision Theory & Reactions - Part 1 | Reactions | Chemistry | FuseSchool
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbapBWjDA74
Reactants and products
There are two ways to measure the rate of a reaction:
1. Measure the rate at which a reactant is used up
2. Measure the rate at which a product is formed

Rate of reaction is a measure of the increase in the concentration of products or the decrease in
the concentration of the reactants over time at a particular temperature.

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 CSEC CHEMISTRY SECTION A - RATES OF REACTIONS

Rate = Change (Increase) in the concentration of product (mol dm-3)

Time taken(s)
OR
Rate = Change (decrease) in the concentration of the reactants (mol dm-3)
Time taken(s)

COLLISION THEORY
❖ Watch Video: Collision Theory

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbGgIfHsx-I

When a chemical reaction occurs, reactants are converted to products.

Reactants → Products
Before products can be formed, reactant molecules must:
1. Make contact with each other by colliding. Not all collisions result in the formation of
products.

2. Reactant molecules must collide with energy equal to or greater than the activation
energy of the reaction. The activation energy of a reaction is the minimum energy that
reactant molecules must possess in order for a chemical reaction to occur and products to
be formed. It is referred to as the energy barrier. This energy is used to break bonds in
reactant molecules.
3. Reactant molecules must collide with the correct orientation.

If the reactant molecules do not collide with energy equal to or greater than the activation
energy, then a chemical reaction does not occur.

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 CSEC CHEMISTRY SECTION A - RATES OF REACTIONS

RATE CURVES

As a reaction proceeds, the rate of the reaction varies.

• The rate of a reaction is usually fastest at the beginning of a reaction because there is a
high concentration of reactant molecules.
• As the reaction proceeds, the rate slows down since the concentration of the reactants
decreases.
• Eventually, the rate falls to zero when one or more reactant has been used up.

Things to measure
The measurement itself depends on the nature of the reactant or product:
• The mass of a substance - solid, liquid or gas - is measured with an electronic or
analytical balance
• The volume of a gas is usually measured with a graduated gas syringe
• It is usual to record the mass or total volume at regular intervals and plot a graph. The
readings go on the vertical axis, and the time goes on the horizontal axis.

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 CSEC CHEMISTRY SECTION A - RATES OF REACTIONS

CALCULATING RATES

Limiting reactant
Reactions happen when particles collide with enough energy. The more reactant particles there
are to begin with, the more product can be formed. This is why the amount of product formed is
directly proportional to the amount of limiting reactant used.
A reaction stops when all the particles of one of the reactants are used up. In a reaction involving
two reactants:
• The limiting reactant is the one that is all used up at the end of the reaction
• The reactant in excess is still there at the end of the reaction (although in a smaller
amount than at the start)

For example, magnesium reacts with hydrochloric acid. When the reaction is over:
• Magnesium is the limiting reactant if it is all gone at the end
• Hydrochloric acid is the limiting reactant if some magnesium is left at the end
Directly proportional
The amount of product formed in a reaction is directly proportional to the amount of limiting
reactant used.
This means that a graph showing amount of product formed against amount of limiting reactant
will give a line that:
• Is straight
• Has a positive gradient
• Passes through the origin (0,0)

Rates from gradients

❖ Watch Video: GCSE Chemistry - Measuring the rate of reaction #39

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCR5xeduq2o

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 CSEC CHEMISTRY SECTION A - RATES OF REACTIONS

The rate of reaction can be calculated from the gradient of a graph of amount of product against time of
reaction:
1. Draw a tangent to the curve (a straight line that represents the gradient at that point).
2. Draw a vertical line and horizontal line to form a right-angled triangle with the line from step 1.
3. Read off the change in amount of product (the vertical line in your triangle).
4. Read off the change in time (the horizontal line in your triangle).
5. Calculate the gradient. This will be the answer from step 3 divided by answer from step 4.

rate of reaction = 10.4 ÷ 2 = 5.2 g/min.

Make sure that the unit for rate matches the units used in the graph.

APPARATUS SET UP USED TO MEASURE RATE

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 CSEC CHEMISTRY SECTION A - RATES OF REACTIONS

FACTORS AFFECTING THE RATE

1. Temperature 2. Concentration of reactant
3. Surface area 4. Use of a catalyst

❖ Watch videos:
1. GCSE Chemistry - Factors Affecting the Rate of Reaction #40
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4HXaUBbv04&t=101s
2. Factors Affecting Reaction Rates
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZIvtJCVcDo

Rate of reaction and changing conditions

The graph above summarises the differences in the rate of reaction at different temperatures,
concentrations and size of pieces. The steeper the line, the greater the rate of reaction. Reactions
are usually fastest at the beginning, when the concentration of reactants is greatest. When the line
becomes horizontal, the reaction has stopped.

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 CSEC CHEMISTRY SECTION A - RATES OF REACTIONS

EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE

The rate of a chemical reaction can be changed by altering the temperature. If the temperature is
increased:

• The reactant particles move more quickly because they gain kinetic energy.
• The particles will collide more frequently.
• More particles have energy equal to the activation energy or greater therefore there will
be more successful effective collisions. The rate of reaction increases

Compared to a reaction at a low temperature, the graph line for the same reaction but at a higher
temperature:

• has a steeper gradient at the start

• becomes horizontal sooner

Eg.1 Iodine Clock Reaction

A solution of hydrogen peroxide is mixed with one containing potassium iodide, starch and
sodium thiosulfate. After a few seconds the colourless mixture suddenly turns dark blue.
Molecular equation: 2KI(aq) + 2HCl(aq) + H2O2 (aq) →I2 (aq) + 2H2 O(l) + 2KCl (aq)

Eg. 2 The refrigerator has a low temperature to reduce the chemical reactions which cause the spoilage of
food.

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 CSEC CHEMISTRY SECTION A - RATES OF REACTIONS

EFFECT OF CONCENTRATION AND PRESSURE

The rate of a chemical reaction can be changed by altering the concentration of a reactant in solution, or
the pressure of a gaseous reactant. If the concentration or pressure is increased:

• There are more reactant particles in the same volume and the reactant particles become more
crowded
• There is a greater chance of the particles colliding, there is an increase in the frequency of the
collisions.
• Therefore, the rate of reaction increases

Compared to a reaction with a reactant at a low concentration (if a solution) or a low pressure (if a gas),
the graph line for the same reaction but at a higher concentration or pressure:

• has a steeper gradient at the start

• becomes horizontal sooner

This shows that the rate of reaction was greater at the higher concentration or pressure.

Eg. The reaction between sodium thiosulphate solution and hydrochloric acid
The relationship between concentration and rate of reaction in When a dilute acid is added to sodium
thiosulphate solution, a pale-yellow precipitate of sulphur is formed.

As the sodium thiosulphate solution is diluted more and more, the precipitate takes longer and longer to
form.
Watch Video: Disappearing Cross - Mime:-
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 CSEC CHEMISTRY SECTION A - RATES OF REACTIONS

EFFECT OF SURFACE AREA

The rate of a chemical reaction can be raised by increasing the surface area of a solid reactant. This is
done by cutting the substance into small pieces, or by grinding it into a powder. If the surface area of a
reactant is increased:

• Reactions occur at the surface of a solid

• Increasing surface area, increases the surface area exposed, so more particles are exposed to the
other reactant
• There is more area for collisions. The rate of reaction increases

Compared to a reaction with lumps of reactant, the graph line for the same reaction but with powdered
reactant:

• has a steeper gradient at the start

• becomes horizontal sooner

This shows that the rate of reaction is greater when the surface area is increased.

Explosions
An explosion is a very fast reaction that releases a large volume of gaseous products. There is a danger of
explosion in factories that handle powdered, flammable substances. These substances include custard
powder, flour and powdered sulphur.

EFFECT OF CATALYSTS

The rate of a reaction can be increased by adding a suitable catalyst. A catalyst is a substance which
changes the rate of reaction but is unchanged at the end of the reaction.

Activation energy
Activation energy is the minimum energy needed for a reaction to occur when two particles collide. It can
be represented on an energy level diagram.

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 CSEC CHEMISTRY SECTION A - RATES OF REACTIONS

Using a catalyst
Catalysts increase the rate of reaction without being used up. They do this by lowering the activation
energy needed. With a catalyst, more collisions result in a reaction, so the rate of reaction increases.
Different reactions need different catalysts.

Catalysts are important in industry because they reduce costs.

The diagram shows that when a catalyst is used, the activation energy is reduced. This makes more of the
collisions successful at a given temperature. So, a catalyst provides an alternative reaction pathway with
lower activation energy.

Eg. The catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide

Solid manganese (IV) oxide is often used as a catalyst in this reaction. Oxygen is given off much faster if
the hydrogen peroxide is concentrated than if it is dilute.

Following a reaction
You should be able to analyse data about the volume of gas collected during a reaction. The data could be
shown in a table or in a graph.
Tables
Here is a typical table of data from a rate of reaction experiment:

Time / Volume of gas

min produced / cm3
0 0
1 34
2 42
3 48
4 50
5 50
It shows that:

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 CSEC CHEMISTRY SECTION A - RATES OF REACTIONS

• the reaction had stopped after 4 minutes

• the total volume of gas produced was 50 cm3
It also shows that, for example, 34 cm3 of gas was produced in the first minute of the reaction, and that it
took 2 minutes for 42 cm3 of gas to be produced.
Graphs
Here is a typical graph from a rate of reaction experiment. The two lines represent the results obtained
using different amounts of the limiting reactant.

40 cm3 2M HCl
& excess CaCO3

20 cm3 2M HCl
& excess CaCO3

The graph shows the mass or volume of gas produced (against time) for two different amounts of limiting
reactant.
The top line represents the same reaction but with double the amount of the limiting reactant (Acid
since CaCO3 is in excess) as the reaction represented by the bottom line. Note that twice as much gas has
been produced by the time the reaction stops. Note the concentration of the limiting reagent was the
same (2M)
The initial rate of reaction is also greater for the reaction with more limiting reactant. This can be seen in
the steeper line at the start – which has a greater gradient than the line below. This could be because the
temperature or concentration of one reactant was higher.

If the limiting agent is altered, the amount of product is also altered.

How to increase the rate of a reaction?

The rate of a reaction increases if:

• The temperature is increased

• The concentration of a dissolved reactant is increased
• Solid reactants are broken into smaller pieces
• A catalyst is used

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 CSEC CHEMISTRY SECTION A - RATES OF REACTIONS

FACTORS AFFECTING THE RATE OF A CHEMICAL REACTION

FACTOR Increase in Rate Decrease in Explanation

Rate
Concentration An increase in A decrease in An increase in concentration of solutions
of solutions or concentration of concentration (or pressure of a gas) means that there are
pressure of a solutions (or of solutions (or more particles in a given volume. This
gas pressure of a gas) pressure of a results in more favourable collisions in a
increases the rate gas) decreases given time period.
of reaction. the rate of
reaction. A decrease in concentration of solutions
(or pressure of a gas) means that there are
fewer particles in a given volume. This
results in fewer favourable collisions in a
given time period.

Temperature Increase in Decrease in An increase in temperature increases the

temperature temperature rate of a reaction in two ways:
increases the rate decreases the 1. More favourable collisions occur in a
of reaction. rate of given time period.
reaction. 2. More molecules now possess energy
equal to or greater than the activation
energy.

An increase in temperature increases the

average kinetic energy of the molecules.

A decrease in temperature decreases the

rate of a reaction in two ways:
1. Fewer favourable collisions in a given
time period.
2. More molecules now possess energy
less than the activation energy.

A decrease in temperature decreases the

average kinetic energy of the molecules.

Surface Area Increase in Decrease in An increase in surface area increases the

or Particle surface area (or surface area available area on which reactant
Size decrease in (or increase in molecules can collide or increases the
particle size) particle size) number of molecules available for
increases rate of decreases rate collisions. This increases the rate of a
reaction of reaction reaction. For example, finely divided
substances such as flour in flour mills, if
combusted, would have a rapid reaction.

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 CSEC CHEMISTRY SECTION A - RATES OF REACTIONS

This poses the danger of fires in the flour

mill.

A decrease in surface area decreases the

available area on which reactant
molecules can collide or decreases the
number of molecules available for
collisions. This decreases the rate of a
reaction.

Use of a A catalyst -- A catalyst increases the rate of a reaction

Catalyst increases the rate by providing an alternative reaction
of a reaction pathway of lower activation energy.
More molecules will now possess energy
equal to greater than the activation
energy of the alternative pathway.

Light (used The presence of -- Light energy initiates or speeds up the

for light increases the rate of photosensitive reactions by
photosensitive rate of increasing the number of collisions.
reactions) photosensitive
reactions

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