Measuring

Rates of
Reaction?
How do we measure it experimentally?
Measuring rates of reaction

 There are several ways to indirectly

measure reaction rates experimentally that
are all based on either measuring reactant
loss or product gain.

 The method chosen for an investigation

depends on the particular reaction and the
type of products produced.

 For example, for a reaction where a gas is

produced:
 Measuring the volume of a gas liberated
at regular time intervals;
 Measuring the mass of the reactant that
remains at regular time intervals.
Measuring rate of reaction

 Magnesium ribbon reacts with hydrochloric

acid to produce hydrogen gas.

Mg(s) + 2HCl(aq)  MgCl2(aq) + H2(g)

 A typical set-up of apparatus to measure the

rate of a reaction in which a gaseous product is
formed is as follows:
 A magnesium ribbon is placed in a small
test-tube inside a flask containing 50 cm3 of
1 M dilute hydrochloric acid. The flask is
shaken, and the gas produced is collected in
a gas syringe.
 The volume of hydrogen in the syringe is
recorded every half minute, timed with a
stopwatch, from the start.
Measuring rate of reaction

gas syringe

thread

retort stand

conical flask

stop
test-tube
hydrochloric 00:00
watch
magnesium
acid ribbon
Analysing the results

 A graph of volume of gas produced against

time can then be plotted as follows:

rate of reaction can be found from

40 the tangent to the line
35
volume of gas/cm3

30

25
the reaction stops
20

15

10

5
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
time/min
Analysing the results

 Average rate =

total volume of gas collected

total time taken

 Instantaneous rate =
 gradient of tangent to the graph at a given
time, t.

 Initial rate =
 gradient of tangent to the graph at t=0.
Analysing the results

 A similar graph of amount of product against

time is obtained from other reactions.

 From the graph, we can conclude:

 In the first minute, 15 cm3 of hydrogen is
obtained while in the second minute, 10 cm3
(25 cm3 - 15 cm3) of hydrogen is obtained.
 The rate of a reaction is fastest at the start of
the reaction but becomes slower as the
reaction proceeds.
 The reaction stops at 4.5 min and a
maximum volume of 35 cm3 of hydrogen is
obtained.
 The average rate of the reaction is 35/4.5 =
7.8 cm3 min-1.
Analysing the results

 The gradient or slope of the curve shows the

rate of reaction.

 The larger the gradient at any particular

time, the faster the reaction at that time.

The gradient of the tangent to the curve at t=0

is the initial rate of the reaction
Analysing the results

 The average rate of the reaction is the final

change in value of the measurable quantity
divided by the total time taken for the
change. For example,
average rate = final volume of H2 / total time
for reaction
 The rate of reaction decreases with time
because as the reaction progresses, the
concentration of the reactants decreases as
they are used up.
 Therefore, the rate of reaction can also be
expressed generally as
rate = -d[A]/dt, where [A] is the concentration
of reactant A
Slower and slower!

 Reactions do not proceed at a steady rate.

They start off at a certain speed, then get
slower and slower until they stop.

 As the reaction progresses, the

concentration of reactants decreases.

 This reduces the frequency of collisions

between particles and so the reaction slows
down.
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
reactants
percentage completion of reaction
product
Chemical Kinetics Design

What is the effect of ______________ (state factor

as IV) on the rate (DV) of the reaction (specify) as
measured by change in ___________________
(state variable that is measured) with time?
Chemical Kinetics Design

 Decide on one of the reactions from

Experiment 21.

 Decide on an independent variable i.e. factor

affecting the rate of reaction.

 Decide on the method of measuring the

dependent variable i.e. rate of reaction.

 Read up on the relevant background

information on the reaction and the method.

 Decide on the controlled variables and justify

them.

 Plan the steps to take in the method and how

you would be collecting and recording the data.
Task

Volumetric analysis for

Measuring changes in
reactions in solution (i.e. Measuring changes in mass
density
titration)

Research 2 methods from

the list and outline briefly
Measuring changes in
the principles involved, Measuring changes in
pressure or volume for
giving an example of the electrical conductivity
gaseous reactions
use of each in a reaction
rate experiment.

Observing and quantifying

Observing and quantifying
the formation of precipitation Print out your notes and
changes in colour
(e.g. changes in share them with the class.
(colorimetry)
transparency)
Discussion

 Why is it important to keep controlled

variables constant?

 Why is it better to take initial rates when

studying the effect of concentration on the
rate of a reaction?

 How can the initial rates be obtained from

the graph?
Effect of concentration

 Experiment: The effect of substrate

concentration on the rate of a reaction.
 2H2O2(aq)  2H2O(l) + O2(g)
 What is the independent variable?
 Concentration of hydrogen peroxide
 What is the dependent variable?
 Volume of gas evolved per unit time
 What are the relevant controlled variables?
 Volume of hydrogen peroxide solution
used
 Volume of yeast suspension (catalyst)
used
 Temperature of surroundings
 Results
volume of volume of time/s (±0.1 initial volume final volume volume of O2
H2O2/cm3 (±1 H2O/cm3 (±1 s) of water in of water in given off/cm3
cm3) cm3) burette/cm3 burette/cm3 (±0.1 cm3)*
(±0.05 cm3) (±0.05 cm3)
5 0 10.0

20.0

..

4 1 ..

3 2 ..

2 3 ..

1 4 ..

* as burette is inverted, volume of O2 = – (final volume of water – initial volume of water)

How can you find the rate in terms of
change in concentration of hydrogen
peroxide with time?
noxygen = Voxygen / Vm

where Vm is molar gas volume at SATP = 24 dm3 (or use ideal gas
equation)

From equation, 2 moles of H2O2 produce 1 mole of O2.

nhydrogen peroxide = 2 x noxygen

dnhydrogen peroxide = nohydrogen peroxide - nhydrogen peroxide

at time t/s where nohydrogen peroxide is the initial concentration of hydrogen

peroxide at the start of the reaction.

d[H2O2] = dnhydrogen peroxide/Vhydrogen peroxide

Hence, rate = d[H2O2]/dt.