FACTORS THAT AFFECT

THE RATE OF A
CHEMICAL REACTION
 The steps that atoms go through as their
arrangement changes from reactants to
products is known as the MECHANISM of
the reaction. Slow & fast reacti
ons

On the microscopic level a number of steps

are essential before a reaction will occur.
The model used to explain
reaction mechanism is
THE COLLISION THEORY.
The Collision Theory
1. reacting atoms, molecules
or ions must collide with
each other.
2. the particles must have sufficient energy
and must be oriented correctly.
3. bonds in the original molecules must
break and new bonds must form.
4. electrons must re-arranged in order to
form new bonds.
Collision of reactin Effective collisions
Effective collisions g particles
Amount of energy and orientation of colliding
particles leads to some collisions being
effective and others not.
 Particles with sufficient energy:

This Boltzmann curve shows that there is only

a small fraction of molecules that have enough
energy for a reaction. Boltzman curves
Reaction rates: Rates of reaction and laws

Reaction rates vary from one reaction to

another. Some occur very quickly (in seconds)
while others take days to run to completion.
There are 6 different factors that play a role in
determining the rate of a chemical reaction
FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE REACTION RATE:

1. type of reactants – different substances are

more reactive than others.
2. the nature of the reactants – state of
division of solids,
3. concentration of solutions
4. pressure of gases. YouTube - Brainiac Alkali Metals

5. temperature of the reaction mixture.

6. presence of a catalyst. temperature & reaction rate
 EXPLAINING THE FACTORS THAT
AFFECT THE RATE OF A REACTION:
• the greater the concentration of a solution
the greater the chance of collisions and so the
greater the rate of reaction.
Conc & rates Iodine clock exp Concentration and rates

• the greater the pressure of a reactant in the

gas phase the greater the chance of collisions
and so the greater the rate of reaction.
Pressure & rates

Change in con
centration
• the greater the exposed surface area of the
particles of a solid (the finer the particles) the
greater the chance of collisions with the
particles on the surface and so the greater the
rate of reaction. Surface area & reacti
on rate

Surface & rates g

raphs
small chips
Loss of mass

Large chips

time
The effect of increasing the temperature of
the reaction mixture:
Low temperature

High temperature Temp & produc

t produced

Temperature
& reaction rate

Temp & rates -

explanation

More molecules with sufficient energy to react at the

higher temperature
Effect of a catalyst on reaction rate:

A catalyst always lowers the activation energy

and so more molecules have sufficient energy
to make effective collisions.
Catalyst & rates Catalysts & rate
 The mechanism of catalysis:
A catalyst speeds up a reaction without
taking part in the reaction. Using a catalyst converter in a car

H2O2 + MnO2 catalyst

Measuring the rate of a reaction:

For the products:

Average rate = change in amount of product
time taken
For the reactants:
Average rate = change in amount of reactant
time taken Change in mass
during reaction

Rate is usually measured in moles per

second (mol.s-1) Measuring the rate at wh
ich gas is given off
 Al reacting with I2
H2 + I2 → 2HI
The gradient of either curve will give the
average rate of reaction for the time interval
Δt.
 Use experimental data to determine the rate
of a chemical reaction.
Calculate the rate of reaction if it takes 18
seconds to produce 42 moles of carbon
dioxide from a wood fire.
Average rate = change in amount of product
time taken
= 42 mol
18s
= 2,3 mol.s-1
Chemical reaction rates can also be
measured by means of:
1.Measuring of gas volumes produced
2.Turbidity (rate of precipitate formation)
3.Change of colour
4.Change of mass of
the reaction vessel.
What are you expected to do:
State the factors that affect the
rate of a chemical reaction.
Heating Mg Heating Mg powder

Explain the effect these factors

have on the rate of a chemical
reaction.

Calculate the rate of a chemical reaction

using experimental data and graphs.