IODINE CLOCK REACTION

Patricia Dionne Nuñez

BSChem 3, Laboratory
Instructor: Leonar Jun Gabiana

Central Mindanao University

September 2023
Iodine Clock Reaction
Abstract
Abstract
The iodine clock reaction was utilized to demonstrate the relationship of
concentration and temperature with the rate of reaction. In the concentration-related
experiment, four trials were conducted under consistent temperature conditions, and in each
trial, reaction mixtures containing solutions A and B were used. On the other hand, to
determine the dependence of reaction rate on temperature, the reaction mixture in Run 1 was
employed to several temperatures, including 10℃, 20℃, 30℃, and 40 ℃. In this
experiment, two separate solutions were mixed together, resulting in a sudden transformation,
changing the initially transparent solution into a vibrant blue color. The underlying principle
of this phenomenon lies in the fact that the thiosulfate ions have completely reacted with
iodine, which subsequently reacted with starch, resulting in the formation of a blue complex
solution. Using the initial rate method, the reaction order with respect to [I -], [BrO3-], and [H+]
ions, the overall order of the reaction, the rate constant, and the activation energy were
determined. This experiment proved that increasing the concentration of the reactants and the
temperature increases the rate of the reaction. In line with the collision theory, greater
concentration of reactants and elevated temperatures lead to increased collision frequency
among reactant molecules, consequently resulting in an increase in reaction rate. This
experiment yielded a rate law expressed as:
Rate=k ¿ ¿, which indicates a first order with respect to both [I-] and [BrO3-], and a second
order with respect to [H+] with an average rate constant k of 48.2630 M-3 s-1. Using the
Arrhenius equation, the activation energy was calculated to be 49.59 kJ/mol. Potential
sources of errors could be attributed with method, instrumental, and systematic errors.

2
Iodine Clock Reaction
Introduction
Introduction
Chemical kinetics deals with the study of reaction rates. It describes how fast or slow
chemical reactions occur, and the influence of various factors on these rates (Atkins et al.,
2018). The iodine clock reaction is crucial in chemical laboratories for demonstrating
reaction kinetics and concept of reaction rates. In this type of reaction, when two transparent
solutions are mixed together, they undergo a sudden transformation, changing from clear to a
vibrant blue color at a certain point in time (Buddies & Buddies, 2022). According to
collision theory, for a chemical reaction to take place, the molecules involved in the reaction
must collide with one another and with sufficient energy (LibreTexts™, 2023b). Hence,
increasing the number of favorable collisions increases the rate of reaction. The rate of a
chemical reaction can be influenced by various factors, including the concentration of
reactants, the physical state and surface area of the reactants, temperature, and the presence of
a catalyst (Key, 2014). However, this experiment focused only on the effect of reactant
concentration and temperature on reaction rate. Reaction rate increases when the
concentration of one or more reactants increases, resulting to a greater number of collisions
(Flowers, 2019). Similarly, raising the temperature increases the speed of a reaction since the
kinetic energy of the reactants increases, which causes a higher frequency of collisions
(Flowers, 2019).
The rate of a chemical reaction is determined by the change in concentration of
reactants or products over the change of time. In accordance with the rate of a chemical
reaction, the rate of disappearance of reactants (negative quantity) is equivalent to the rate of
appearance of products (positive quantity) (LibreTexts™, 2023a). This relationship can be
defined as follows:
−∆ [ Reactants ] ∆ [ Products ]
= (1)
∆t ∆t
The experiment focused on investigating the rate of a chemical reaction between
iodide ions (I-) and bromate ions (BrO3-) in an acidic (H+) environment, which can be
expressed by the following equation:
6 I- (aq) + BrO3- (aq) + 6 H+ (aq) → 3 I2 (aq) + Br- (aq) + 3 H2O (2)
At room temperature, the reaction above proceeds in a slower rate. Its rate depends on
the concentration of I-, BrO3-, and H+ ions based on the initial rate method, wherein it uses the
rate law expressed below:
Rate=k ¿ ¿ (3)

3
Iodine Clock Reaction
Introduction

In addition to Reaction 1, the following reaction also took place in the reaction
beaker:
I2 (aq) + 2 S2O32-(aq) → 2 I- (aq) + S4O62-(aq) (4)
The reaction above occurs simultaneously and proceeds in a faster rate. The iodine, I 2,
produced in Reaction 1 reacts completely with thiosulfate, S 2O32-, ion to convert itself back to
iodide ion. A characteristic blue color will appear once all the S 2O32- ion is completely
consumed. It is possible that iodine has formed a complex with the starch (LibreTexts™,
2020b), as indicated in the equation below:
I2 (aq) + I- (aq) I3- (aq) (5a)
I3- (aq) + starch = blue starch-I3- complex (5b)
On the other hand, the relationship between the temperature and the reaction rate can
be determined by the Arrhenius equation shown below:
−E a/ RT
k=Ae (6)
In this context, k represents the rate constant, A signifies the Arrhenius constant, Ea
denotes the activation energy, and T represents the temperature measured in Kelvin. Taking
the natural logarithm of both sides of the equation 6, we get
−Ea 1
ln k = + ln A (7)
R T
Equation 7 is the slope-intercept form of a linear equation, where the slope is
represented by -Ea/R and the y-intercept is represented by ln A. This relationship can be
established by graphing ln k against 1/T (LibreTexts™, 2020b).
The main objective of the experiment aimed to determine the dependence of the rate
of reaction on concentration and temperature. Specifically, it aimed to establish the
experimental rate law of the iodine clock reaction which involves the determination of the
order of the rate law (values of m, n, and p) and the rate constant k. In addition, it aimed to
determine the activation energy of the reaction.

4
Iodine Clock Reaction
Methods and Materials
Methods and Materials
The following details and procedures of the experiment were adapted from the
LibreTexts™ (2020b). Modifications were made to the procedures of the experiment due to
the unavailability of certain chemicals mentioned in the reference.

I. Chemicals and Apparatus

The following apparatus and chemicals were used in conducting the experiment: 500
mL volumetric flask, 10 mL volumetric pipet, 10 mL measuring pipet, aspirator, 50 mL
beaker, dropper, spatula, wash bottle containing distilled water, alcohol thermometer, stirring
rod, analytical balance (SHIMADZU ATX224), timer, potassium iodide (KI), disodium
thiosulfate (Na2S2O3), 0.1M hydrochloric acid (HCl), potassium bromate (KBrO 3), and
soluble starch (1% w/v).

II. Experimental Procedure

A. Preparation of the chemicals to be used in the experiment
The following steps were followed to prepare the chemicals to be used in the
experiment. To prepare the following solutions, the initial step involved determining the
theoretical mass of the solids before obtaining their actual mass.
Step 1: Preparation of 0.001 M disodium thiosulfate (Na 2S2O3) solution. In order
to attain the desired concentration of the solution, a more concentrated solution was initially
prepared for convenience. A concentration of 0.1 M was prepared by weighing 1.2404 g of
Na2S2O3 in a beaker using the analytical balance, followed by dissolving the solid in distilled
water. Subsequently, the dissolved solid was transferred into a 50 mL volumetric flask and
diluted up to the mark. Using the dilution equation shown below, the volume needed to
achieve the 0.001 M Na2S2O3 solution was determined. A measured volume 5 mL was
aspirated using a measuring pipet and then transferred into a 500 mL volumetric flask.
Afterward, the flask was diluted to the mark with distilled water. The solutions prepared in
volumetric flask were thoroughly mixed by inverting the flask upside down several times.
C 1 V 1=C 2 V 2 (8)
Step 2: Preparation of 0.01 M potassium iodide (KI) solution. Exactly 0.8398 g of
KI solid was weighed in an analytical balance. The mass was then recorded and used for
further calculations. The measured solid was then dissolved in a beaker using distilled water.
Thereafter, the dissolved solid was transferred into a 500 mL volumetric flask, ensuring that

5
Iodine Clock Reaction
Methods and Materials
all solid residues from the beaker were fully transferred into the flask. The flask was then
diluted to mark. The solution was thoroughly mixed by inverting the flask a couple times.
Step 3: Preparation of 0.040 M potassium bromate (KBrO 3) solution. A mass of
0.6734 g of KBrO3 solid was weighed in an analytical balance. It was then recorded on the
laboratory notebook and used for further calculations. Following this, the solid was dissolved
in a beaker using a distilled water. It was then transferred into a 500 mL volumetric flask
leaving no solid residues behind. The flask was then diluted to mark. Afterward, the flask was
inverted several times to ensure thorough mixture.
Step 4: Preparation of starch solution. A weighed mass of 0.5137 g of soluble
starch was obtained and recorded. The soluble solid was then dissolved in a beaker with
distilled water. After this, it was transferred into a 500 mL volumetric flask and then diluted
to mark. The flask was then inverted multiple times to ensure the solution was mixed
thoroughly. It was then set aside for later use.
B. Dependence of Reaction Rate on Concentration
In this part, the dependence of the reaction rate of the solutions shown in Table 1 on
concentration was determined. The experiment was conducted according to the following
procedures.
Step 1: Preparation of reaction mixtures. The reagent volumes to be used in
carrying out several reactions, essential for determining in order to find the general rate law
for equation (3), was summarized in Table 1. The temperature was held constant at 27 ℃ and
the concentrations of each run were varied.
Table 1. Reaction Mixtures at Room Temperature
Reaction Beaker 1 Reaction Beaker 2
0.0010 M 0.040 M
Runs 0.010 M 0.10 M Starch
Na2S2O3 H2O (mL) KBrO3
KI (mL) HCl (mL) Solution
(mL) (mL)
1 10 10 10 10 10 2 drops
2 20 10 0 10 10 2 drops
3 10 10 0 20 10 2 drops
4 10 10 0 10 20 2 drops

For each run of the reaction, some of the reagents were mixed in beaker 1 and the
other reagents in beaker 2. Pipets were used for the precise measurement of the required

6
Iodine Clock Reaction
Methods and Materials
volume of each reagent. Two (2) drops of starch indicator were added to reaction beaker 2.
The contents
in each reaction beaker were mixed thoroughly. When measuring out reagents, it is essential
to avoid cross-contamination between pipets. A separate pipet was allocated for each reagent.
Step 2: Collection of data. For each run, the reaction beakers were stirred constantly
until all contents were incorporated. Then, the contents of Reaction Beaker 1 were poured
into Reaction Beaker 2. The solutions were then swirled to mix them thoroughly. The timer
was immediately started as soon as the solutions were mixed. The solution was continuously
swirled until it turned blue. The time in seconds at the instant the solution turned blue was
then recorded on the laboratory notebook. The abovementioned procedure was repeated for
the remaining mixtures listed in Table 1.
C. Dependence of the Reaction Rate on Temperature
The procedure of the dependence of the reaction rate of the solutions on temperature was
presented in this part of the experiment. The reaction was carried out at several different
temperatures.
Step 1: Preparation of Reaction Mixture 1 at several different temperatures. The
Reaction Mixture 1 in Table 1 was prepared at several different temperatures. The
temperatures used in the experiment were 10 ℃, 20 ℃, 30 ℃, and 40 ℃. Reaction Beakers
1 and 2 were equilibrated to a certain temperature. The solutions in the beakers were placed
in an ice bath to reach the desired temperature of 10°C and 20°C, while a hot bath was
utilized to attain temperatures of 30°C and 40°C.
Step 2: Collection of data. When the two solutions were brought to the desired
temperature, the solution from the Reaction Beaker 1 was then poured into the Reaction
Beaker 2. The timer was immediately started at the time of mixing. The time in seconds at the
instant the solution turned to color blue was noted and recorded on the laboratory notebook.
Two trials were performed during the experiment.

6
Iodine Clock Reaction
Results and Discussion
Results And Discussion
This section provides all the results and discussion based on the data gathered
throughout the process of conducting the experiment. The main objective of this experiment
was to determine the effect of concentration and temperature on the reaction rate.
Specifically, it aimed to establish the experimental rate law of the iodine clock reaction which
involves the determination of the order of the rate law (values of m, n, and p) and the rate
constant k. It also aimed to determine the activation energy of the reaction. The results of the
experiment are presented in tables and figures. This section is divided into two parts: (A)
dependence of reaction rate on concentration; and (B) dependence of reaction rate on
temperature.
In the reaction, a transition from a colorless solution to a blue-colored one was
observed. The addition of S2O32- resulted in the consumption of the I 2 formed by reacting I-,
BrO3-, and H+ ions, as indicated in Equation (2). Once all thiosulfate ions have been
completely used up by the reaction, I2 reacts with starch to form a blue-complex solution.
Two experimental variables were implemented, focusing on varying the concentration and
temperature, aiming to investigate their effect on the reaction rate.

A. Dependence of reaction rate on concentration

In the experiment of the dependence of reaction rate on concentration, Table 2
showed that increasing the concentration of the reactants decreases the reaction time.
Table 2. Reaction time for the dependence of reaction rate on concentration
Runs Reaction Time (s)
1 114.26
2 52.27
3 55.71
4 25.58

In order to determine the reaction orders, the final molarities of [I -], [BrO3-], and [H+]
in each run were derived by manipulating Equation (8), leading to the formulation of
Equations (9a), (9b), and (9c). The calculations of the final molarities of the reactants for the
four (4) runs were summarized in Table 3.
¿ (9a)
¿ (9b)
¿ (9c)

8
Iodine Clock Reaction
Results and Discussion
Table 3. Final molarities of [I-], [BrO3-], and [H+] in reacting mixture
Reactant concentration in reacting mixture (M)
Runs
[I-] [BrO3-] [H+]
1 0.002 0.008 0.02
2 0.004 0.008 0.02
3 0.002 0.016 0.02
4 0.002 0.008 0.04

From the gathered data, higher concentrations of [I-], [BrO3-], and [H+] are more
favored in the reaction (proceed faster) which is based on the rate law (3), showing that the
concentration of the reactant is directly proportional with the rate of the reaction. The results
shown in Table 2 are consistent with the aforementioned statement, as Runs 2, 3, and 4
exhibited shorter reaction time compared with Run 1 (control group), which had the lesser
concentration of the reactant.
The rate of the reaction can be measured by using the relationship in equation (1). In
this experiment, the rate of disappearance of I -, BrO3-, and H+ ions is equal to the rate of
appearance of I2 and S2O32- ion. This relationship can be expressed by the following equation:
−1
Rate= d ¿¿ (10)
6
This experiment utilized the concentration of S 2O32- ion to determine the rate of
reaction for each run. The [S2O32-] was determined to be 0.0002 M using the formula given in
equation (8). With the obtained information, the reaction rate for each run was done by
dividing the total concentration of the thiosulfate ion formed by the time from each run ( ∆ t ),
and then multiplying the result by 1/6, as outlined in equation (10). The reaction rates of the
four (4) runs were displayed in Table 4.
Table 4. Reaction Rates
Runs Rate, M s-1
1 2.92x10-7
2 6.38x10-7
3 5.98x10-7
4 1.30x10-6

As can be seen in Table 4, the rate of the reaction increases with increasing reactant
concentration. According to the collision theory, concentration plays a crucial role in
influencing the reaction rate because for molecules in a solution to react, they must come into

9
Iodine Clock Reaction
Results and Discussion
contact through collisions (LibreTexts™, 2023b). To expound further, when the
concentration of one of the reactants increases, the collisions between molecules of reactants
occur more frequently, leading to an increased rate of reaction (Atascientific, 2019). Figure 1
provides a visual representation of the effect of concentration on the rate of the reaction,
referenced from Vg (2023).

Figure 1. Illustration of the effect of concentration on reaction rate (Vg, 2023).

Figure 1 demonstrates that the reaction with a high concentration, as shown on the
right side, experiences a greater number of collisions between molecules in contrast to the
reaction with low concentration, as seen on the left side. Now, the reaction order with respect
to [I-], [BrO3-], and [H+] was calculated and summarized in Table 5.
Table 5. Reaction Orders m, n, and p
Rounded to the Nearest
Reaction Order Calculated Reaction Order
Integer
Value of m (for I-) 1.13 1
Value of n (for BrO3-) 1.04 1
Value of p (for H+) 2.16 2

The reaction orders were determined by calculating the ratio of the rate laws, as
illustrated in Equation (11). Runs 1 and 2, which were the only varying concentration values
among all runs, were used to calculate the reaction order for m (for I -). The values for [I-]R1,
[BrO3-]R1, and [H+]R1 are taken from Table 3, specifically from the data corresponding to Run
1. Likewise, the values for [I -]R2, [BrO3-]R2, and [H+]R2 are obtained from Table 3 under Run 2.
Meanwhile, the reaction order for n (for BrO 3-) was determined using Runs 1 and 3, having
Run 3 as the numerator and Run 1 as the denominator. The values for the concentration of the
reactants were obtained from Table 3 as previously mentioned. Runs 1 and 4 were used to
calculate the reaction order for p (for H +), having Run 4 as the numerator and Run 1 as the
denominator. The concentrations of the reactants were also obtained from Table 3, as

9
Iodine Clock Reaction
Results and Discussion
previously indicated. The calculated reaction order was then rounded to the nearest integer
(0,1,2). Sample calculations were provided in Appendix.
rate 2
=k ¿ ¿ ¿ (11)
rate 1
After the calculation of the reaction order of each reactant, the rate law can now be
defined as follows:
Rate=k ¿ (12)
As seen in Equation (12), the overall order of the reaction is equal to a value of 4,
comprising a first order with respect to [I -] and [BrO3-], and a second order with respect to
[H+]. Since [H+] is a second order, doubling its concentration would result to a fourfold
increase in the reaction rate. Based on the results presented in Table 4, Run 4 exhibits the
highest reaction rate, which can be associated to the doubling of the hydrogen ion
concentration. Now, the rate constant k can be calculated by modifying the rate law shown
above, which is seen in Equation (13). The k values for all runs and its average were
calculated and summarized in Table 6.
Rate
k= (13)
¿¿
Table 6. Rate Constant k
Runs k value, M-3 s-1
1 45.5832
2 49.8214
3 46.7450
4 50.9024
Average 48.2630

The average rate constant k was determined to be 48.2630 M-3 s-1 (Table 6). Plugging
the calculated k value to Equation (12) would result to Equation (14).
−3 −1
Rate=48.2630 M s ¿ (14)

B. Dependence of reaction rate on temperature

In this experiment, Run 1 (Table 1) was subjected to four setups in different
temperatures, including 10℃, 20℃, 30℃, and 40℃, to determine the dependence of the rate
of reaction on varying temperatures. Two trials were performed in this part of the experiment.
An

9
Iodine Clock Reaction
Results and Discussion
average reaction time was computed using the reaction times gathered from trials 1 and 2
(Table 7).
Table 7. Average Reaction Times
Reaction Times, s
Run 1 T, K
Trial 1 Trial 2 Avg Time
Set 1 283.15 304.93 348.85 326.89
Set 2 293.15 159.45 186.41 172.93
Set 3 303.15 100.42 100.52 100.47
Set 4 313.15 41.32 41.32 41.32

From the collected data above, the reaction rate of thiosulfate concentration on
varying temperatures was similarly calculated using Equations (8 & 10). This was used to
compute the rate constant k for each setup using Equation (12). To summarize, the effect of
temperature on reaction rate and rate constant k were shown in Table 8.
Table 8. Effect of Temperature on Reaction Rate and Rate Constant k
Run 1 T, K Rate, M s-1 k value, M-3 s-1
Set 1 283.15 1.02x10-7 15.9330
Set 2 293.15 1.93x10-7 30.1182
Set 3 303.15 3.32x10-7 51.8397
Set 4 313.15 8.07x10-7 126.0487

As observed in Table 8, elevating the temperature results in a higher reaction rate,

consequently resulting to an increase in the rate constant. This implies that varying
temperatures affect the rate of the reaction. Typically, increasing the temperature elevates the
average kinetic energy of the reactant molecules (Key, 2014). When the kinetic energy
becomes elevated, which means the reactant molecules move faster, they will collide more
frequently than they usually do. However, this does not guarantee that a reaction will
definitely occur. Raising the temperature requires more of the particles that collide to have a
sufficient amount of energy for a collision to be effective. In other terms, these particles will
have the necessary activation energy (LibreTexts™, 2020a). A visual representation, obtained
from Nagwa (2023), of the effect of temperature on the rate of reaction is shown in Figure 2.

9
Iodine Clock Reaction
Results and Discussion

Figure 2. Illustration of the effect of temperature on reaction rate (Nagwa, 2023).

Figure 2 illustrates that at higher temperature, reactant molecules will collide more
often with each other, which results to an increase in the rate of the reaction.
Using the calculated rate constant k and the corresponding temperatures in Kelvin for
each setup, a linear graph (Figure 3) was constructed by plotting the natural logarithm of k (ln
k) against the reciprocal of temperature (1/T). The data for ln k and 1/T are presented in Table
9. The linear equation described in Equation 7 was utilized to calculate the activation energy
value, Ea.
Table 9. Data for ln k and 1/T
Run 1 ln k 1/T
Set 1 2.768391463 0.003531697
Set 2 3.405128298 0.003411223
Set 3 3.94815601 0.003298697
Set 4 4.836668542 0.003193358

6.00

5.00
f(x) = − 5964.46771425863 x + 23.7727043392668
4.00 R² = 0.983180727781144

3.00
ln k

2.00

1.00

0.00
0.0031 0.0032 0.0033 0.0034 0.0035 0.0036
1/T (K^-1)

Figure 3. Graph of ln k vs. 1/T

9
Iodine Clock Reaction
Results and Discussion
The relationship between the natural logarithm of rate constant and the reciprocal of
temperature is represented by the linear equation y = -5964.5x + 23.773, which exhibits a
coefficient of determination R² = 0.9832. In this equation, x corresponds to 1/T, and y
corresponds to ln k. The coefficient of determination value, being close to 1, suggests that the
relationship is approaching a perfect fit. Therefore, the linear relationship between ln k and
1/T is strong, but not perfect. Additionally, the positive R² value implies that as the
temperature increases, the rate of reaction also increases. Therefore, there is a direct
relationship between temperature and the rate of reaction. The value of Ea can be determined
using Equation (14) below.
−Ea
Slope= (12)
R
Plugging in the value of -5964.5 K into the slope gives an activation energy of E a =
49.59 kJ/mol. In experiments where temperature variations are a factor, it is vital to
determine the activation energy (Ea) and Arrhenius constant (A). Activation energy refers to
the minimum energy necessary for a chemical reaction to occur (LibreTexts™, 2023c). Thus,
those reactions with lower Ea have faster rates. On the other hand, Arrhenius constant
indicates the frequency of successful collisions of molecules (LibreTexts TM, 2023d). Hence,
the reaction rate is high when there is an increase in the frequency of molecular collisions.
The results of this experiment may vary from the results of other studies, potentially
due to the sources of errors encountered during the process of conducting the experiment.
One possible error could be attributed to the preparation of the solutions. One could be from
measuring the volumes of the solutions. Inaccuracies may occur due to improper maintenance
of the consistency of the experiment during the experiment. Furthermore, it is important to
consider that the equipment used in the preparation of solutions can also affect the results. In
the experiment, some solutions were prepared using measuring pipets, while others employed
volumetric pipets. One potential error could arise from the agitation of the solution, as there
is a great chance that stirring the solution may increase the rate of the reaction. Lastly, errors
could arise when the reagents used in the experiment are either close to or have exceeded
beyond their expiration dates, potentially diminishing their effectiveness.

9
Iodine Clock Reaction
Conclusion
Conclusion
In conclusion, the purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of
concentration and temperature on the rate of reaction. It specifically aimed to establish the
experimental rate law of the iodine clock reaction which involves the determination of the
order of the rate law (values of m, n, and p) and the rate constant k. In addition, it aimed to
determine the activation energy of the reaction.
The iodine clock reaction experiment demonstrated the fundamental concepts
associated with chemical kinetics. The rates of a chemical reaction could be influenced by
several factors. These include the concentration of reactants, the physical state and surface
area of the reactants, temperature, and the presence of a catalyst. However, only the effect of
concentration of reactants and temperature on reaction rate were employed in this
experiment. In this experiment, two separate solutions were mixed together, resulting in a
sudden transformation, changing the initially transparent solution into a vibrant blue color.
All of the thiosulfate ions in the reacting mixture have reacted completely with iodine,
subsequently interacting with starch and generating a blue complex solution.
The part A of the experiment investigated the dependence of reaction rate on
concentration. This was achieved through conducting an experiment involving four trials,
maintaining a consistent temperature while varying the concentrations of the reactants. The
results of the experiment indicate that as the concentration rises, the reaction rate also
increases, and vice versa. According to the collision theory, concentration is a vital factor that
significantly influences the reaction rate because an increase in the number of reactant
molecules (high concentration) leads to a higher frequency of collisions. Consequently, this
would result in an increase in reaction rate.
In part B, the dependence of reaction rate on temperature was observed. This was
done by employing Run 1 to varying temperatures, including 10℃, 20℃, 30℃, and 40 ℃.
The results showed that the rate of reaction increases with temperature. Based on the collision
theory, elevating the temperature increases the average kinetic energy. As a result, the
reactant molecules would collide more frequently with each other, leading to an increase in
reaction rate.
The experiment determined the experimental rate law of the reaction which is
Rate=k ¿ . It also calculated the rate constant which was determined to be 48.2630 M-3 s-1.
Using the Arrhenius equation in Equation (7), the activation of energy was found to be equal
to 49.59 kJ/mol.

15
Iodine Clock Reaction
Conclusion
The experiment could be improved by exploring the effect of the presence of a
catalyst on the reaction rate. It is recommended to perform two trials, one with the catalyst
and the other one without. The result should demonstrate that the catalyst has the ability to
accelerate the reaction rate and lower the activation energy. To minimize errors that arise
during the experiment, proper measuring of the volumes of the solutions should be followed
and the consistency of the temperature of the solutions should be maintained properly.

15
Iodine Clock Reaction
References
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ok_Maps/Supplemental_Modules_(Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry)/Kinetics/
02%3A_Reaction_Rates/2.05%3A_Reaction_Rate/
2.5.02%3A_The_Rate_of_a_Chemical_Reaction

LibreTextsTM. (2023b). 6.1.6: The collision theory. Chemistry LibreTexts.

https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry_Textbo
ok_Maps/Supplemental_Modules_(Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry)/Kinetics/
06%3A_Modeling_Reaction_Kinetics/6.01%3A_Collision_Theory/
6.1.06%3A_The_Collision_Theory#:~:text=Collision%20theory%20states%20that
%20for,on%20the%20frequency%20of%20collisions.

LibreTextsTM. (2023c). 6.2.3.3: The Arrhenius Law - Activation Energies. Chemistry

LibreTexts.

17
Iodine Clock Reaction
References
https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry_Textbo
ok_Maps/Supplemental_Modules_(Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry)/Kinetics/06
%3A_Modeling_Reaction_Kinetics/
6.02%3A_Temperature_Dependence_of_Reaction_Rates/
6.2.03%3A_The_Arrhenius_Law/6.2.3.03%3A_The_Arrhenius_Law-
_Activation_Energies

LibreTextsTM. (2023d). 6.2.3.3: The Arrhenius Law - Activation Energies. Chemistry

LibreTexts.
https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry_Textbo
ok_Maps/Supplemental_Modules_(Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry)/Kinetics/
06%3A_Modeling_Reaction_Kinetics/
6.02%3A_Temperature_Dependence_of_Reaction_Rates/
6.2.03%3A_The_Arrhenius_Law/6.2.3.03%3A_The_Arrhenius_Law-
_Activation_Energies

Nagwa. (2023). Lesson Explainer: Effects of temperature and concentration on rates of

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Embibe. Embibe Exams. https://www.embibe.com/exams/rate-of-a-chemical-reaction/

17
Iodine Clock Reaction
Appendix A
Appendix A – Calculations
Final Concentration of [S2O32-]
¿
¿
Sample Calculation for Final Concentrion of Reactants (Run 2; Part A)
¿
¿
¿

Sample Calculation for Reaction Rate in terms of [S2O32-] (Run 2)

1
Rate= d ¿ ¿
6
Reaction order m
m n p
6.37714431× 10
−7
k [ 0.004 ] [ 0.008 ] [ 0.02 ]
−7
= m n p
2.91732306 ×10 k [ 0.002 ] [ 0.008 ] [ 0.02 ]
m
2.18595752822= [ 2 ]
ln 2.18595752822=m ln2
ln 2.18595752822
m= =1.12826537062 ≈ 1
ln 2
Reaction order n
m n p
5.98336624 ×10
−7
k [ 0.002 ] [ 0.016 ] [ 0.02 ]
−7
= m n p
2.91732306 ×10 k [ 0.002 ] [ 0.008 ] [ 0.02 ]
n
2.05097828038=[ 2 ]
ln 2.05097828038=n ln 2
ln 2.05097828038
n= =1.03631221393 ≈1
ln 2
Reaction order p
m n p
1.30310138× 10
−6
k [ 0.002 ] [ 0.008 ] [ 0.04 ]
−7
= m n p
2.91732306 ×10 k [ 0.002 ] [ 0.008 ] [ 0.02 ]
p
4.46677091478=[ 2 ]
ln 4.46677091478= p ln 2

20
Iodine Clock Reaction
Appendix A
ln 4.46677091478
p= =2.1592322657 ≈ 2
ln 2
Sample Calculation for Rate Constant (Run 2; Part A)
−7
6.37714431×10 M /s −3 −1
k= =49.82143995919 M s
[ 0.004 ][ 0.008 ] [0.02]2

Activation Energy
−Ea
Slope=
R
Slope× R=−E a

J
−E a=−5964.5 K × 8.31446 =−49591.56681 J /mol
mol ∙ K
J 1 kJ
E a=49591.56681 × =49.59 kJ /mol
mol 1000 J

20