• Title: How different factors

effect the rate of a reaction.

Members: Liz, Donna, Hajira
Subject: Chemistry
Date: 20-3-24
• Introduction:-
In this investigation, we tested
the factors effecting rate/speed
of the reaction:
[magnesium *s* + sulfuric acid
*aq*  hydrogen *gas* +
magnesium sulfate *aq*]
[hydrogen peroxide *aq*  water
(I) + oxygen *g*]
• Work Plan:-
We did 5 experiments, each time
with a different factor in change.
For example, in experiment 1,
we used a catalyst (manganese).
We started by adding 2mL of
hydrogen peroxide to two test
tubes. We then added a spatula
tip of manganese oxide to one of
the test tubes, holding it up
against the fire. We let it burn for
a while and observed the
changes. We experienced
invisible bubbles appearing and
gas (oxygen) being released
(q1). We repeated the same with
the other test tube and noticed
that the first test tube (with
manganese oxide added in it)
occurred way faster. This is
because a catalyst was added in
it to speed up the reaction. At the
end of the reaction, manganese
(catalyst) stayed the same at the
bottom of the tube (q7)
In experiment 2, we tested with
different acids. In the first test
tube we added one finger dilute
sulfuric acid and in the other one
dilute acetic acid. We then added
1cm of magnesium strip to both
tubes. Sulfuric acid is stronger so
test tube 1 reacted faster than
test tube 2.
In experiment 3, we observed
how temperature effects the rate
of a reaction. We started by
adding one finger of dilute
sulfuric acid in each of the test
tubes. Then we added 1cm of
magnesium strip to each test
tube. We heated on of the test
tubes with a small colorless
flame of about 60 degree
Celsius. We noted the time taken
for each for each magnesium
strip to reach in each tube. By
doing so, we observed that the
temperature does affect the
speed of the reaction. As by
heating, the particles gain more
energy and move faster, colliding
more and more, making the
reaction happen quicker. (q4)
In experiment 4, we tested how
different solvents and their
volumes effect the rate of a
reaction. We used 3 test tubes.
One with 2 fingers of dilute
sulfuric acid, one with one finger
of dilute sulfuric acid and one
with one finger of water. Then we
added 1cm of magnesium strip to
each of the tubes. We then noted
the time it took for the
magnesium to fully react in each
of the tubes.
In experiment 5, we tested by
using 1cm of magnesium ribbon
and magnesium powder of
approximately the same mass. In
the first test tube we added the
magnesium ribbon with one
finger of dilute sulfuric acid and
the in the second, the powder
with the same amount of solvent.
The powdered magnesium
obviously dissolved quicker as
there particles of it were less
compacted. We experienced
bubbles and foam. Meanwhile,
the tube with the strip of
magnesium was comparably
slower. The reason why we used
the same amount of magnesium
was so that the reaction could be
as fair as possible (q3). The first
reaction (one with powdered
magnesium) stopped after some
time as all the powdered
magnesium was used up. Once
one of the elements is used up in
a reaction, the reactants don’t
react further
(no more products formed) and it
eventually stops (q5).