Chemistry Topical Revision: Rate of Reaction

Rate is the amount of reactants used up or products formed in unit time.

Changethe amount of substance
Rate=
Total time taken

Total Change
Average Rate=
TotalTime

The rate at a specific time must be found graphically. To find instantaneous rate find gradient at
that point.

The steeper the graph and the faster the rate of reaction. If the gradient of graph turns zero reaction
stops.

To find time taken for reaction to be completed, half completed, a quarter completed etc :

1. Find the total volume at the end of the reaction

2. Find half, quarter of volume and find the corresponding time.

Factors affecting the rate of reaction ( These factors affect the gradient of the reaction )

Collision Theory

For reaction to occur, the particles must collide effectively. The greater number of effective
collisions per unit time, the faster the rate of reaction. Effective collisions are collisions which result
in chemical change. Colliding particles need minimum amount energy (activation energy, Ea) to
be effective.

Activation energy ( or Ea ) is defined as the minimum amount of energy required to start a reaction.

1. Concentration of the acid

When the concentration of the solution increases as there are more molecules in a fixed volume.
Molecules are more closely packed together and collide at a faster rate. Therefore, this increases
the number of collisions per unit time and chance of more effective collisions. Thus, increasing
the rate of reaction.

2. Pressure ( ONLY Gaseous Reactions )

As the pressure increases, the molecules of the gas are more compressed into a smaller volume,
molecules are closer together and they collide at a faster rate. Therefore, the number of
collisions per unit time increases and increasing rate of reaction.

3. Particle size or Surface area of solid reactants

Decrease in particle size increases the surface area of particle ( for same mass ). Finer particles
have larger total surface area than larger particles of the same mass. With smaller particles there is
larger area of contact between the reactants and particles. Thus, increase in the number of
collisions per unit time and increasing rate.
 4. Effect of temperature ( ALL reactions )

At higher temperature, the particles gain energy are more energetic and move faster and thus
there is an increase in number of collisions in unit time. At higher temperature, more particles
possess energy equal to activation energy and increasing the number of effective collisions.

Increase in temperature not only increases the number of collisions in unit time but effective
collisions and therefore increases rate of reaction.

5. Presence of Catalyst

Definition of catalyst: A substance that increases rate of reaction but remains unchanged at the end of
the reaction.

Characteristics of a catalyst:

I. They do not affect the amount or the type of the products formed, yield of the reaction and
the enthalpy change of the reaction.
II. Small amounts are needed ( because they remain unchanged and can be used repeatedly )
III. Specific catalysts are used for specific reactions

Catalyst lowers the heat required for the reaction by providing alternative pathway with lower
activation energy. Thus, this increases the number of effective collisions per unit time.

Energy Level/
kJ

Progress of
rxn

6. Type of bonding

Reaction with ionic compounds are faster than those with covalent compounds. Ionic compounds
are made up of ions. The ions present are already present in the solution and combines immediately.

Whereas, atoms of covalent compounds are held together by covalent bonds ( as molecules ).
These bonds have to be broken and release to form free atoms because molecules do not react but
atoms react. New bonds are then formed between the reacting atoms. This process takes time.

7. Molarity of acid

Dibasic acids have faster rate of reaction than monobasic acids because dibasic acids have a higher
concentration of H+ ions in the same mole of acid. Thus, this increases the rate of reaction.
Experiments to determine rate of reaction:

Measuring the gas produced at unit time ( rate

of evolving of gas )

Measuring
Measuringthethetime taken toinproduce
decreases the massfixed time
of reactants.
Weigh the flask and contents at a regular
( not used often as gas syringe has capacity oftime
intervals.
only 100 cubic centimeter )
Graphofofvolume
Graph total mass against
against timetime.
is plotted.
Reaction with
Description of decrease
graph in mass because of gas
Mass of flask (1)
+ The gradient of the graph is the steepest at the
evolved.
content (1) The gradient
start of the of the graph
reaction is the
as the speedsteepest at
of reaction is the
Cotton
the start wool
of theprevents
fastest. reactionthe
as mass
the speedloss of
due to acid
reaction
isspray.
the fastest.
(2) The gradient decreases as the reaction
(2) The gradientasdecreases
proceeds as the
the reactants arereaction
used up. The speed
3 proceeds as the decreases
of reaction reactants are
withused
time.up. The
speed of reaction decreases with time.
(3) The gradient becomes 0 at 5 min as the
2 (3) The gradient
reaction hasbecomes
stopped.0The
afterspeed
4.5 min as the = 0.
of reaction
reaction
No has
morestopped.
change The speed
in mass of reaction
is taking = 0.
place. Final
No moremass gas is being
= 50 g. produced. One or more of
1 the reactants has been used up. Total volume of
Time gas evolved = 70 cm3.
taken/min
Rate Graphs Time

1. Change in temperature, pressure, particle size and presence of catalyst affects only the rate
and thus the steepness of the graph.
They do not affect the end point of the graph.

2. Concentration affects both the end-point and the steepness of the graph.
End point depends on the product formed (which depends on the moles of reactants formed)

a. When there is excess reactants to react with all the acids. Volume of gas evolved only
depends on the number of moles of acid. [ xs reactants ]
Eg. Expt 1: 2mol/dm3 of HCl and Expt 2: 1mol/dm3 of HCl

Volume of
Gas/cm3
 Time taken/min
Graph is steeper with 2 mole acid and end point is double since there is enough reactants to react
with all the acid.
b. When there is enough acid to react with all the reactants. Volume of gas evolved depends
only on the mass of the reactants. [ xs acid both 1 mol/dm3 of HCl ]
Eg. Expt 1: 2g of reactants and Expt 2: 1 g of reactants ( same SA )

Volume of
Gas/cm3

Time taken/min

Graph is steeper with 2 gram of reactants and end point is double since there is enough reactants
to react with all the acid.
c. When there is not enough reactants to react with all the acid. Therefore, the number of
moles of acid does not affect the amount of product formed.
Eg. Expt 1: 2mol/dm3 of HCl and Expt 2: 1mol/dm3 of HCl [small amount of reactants]

Volume of
Gas/cm3

Time taken/min
Graph is steeper with 2 mole acid but end point the same since the mole of reactants is the same
and not enough reactants to react with all acid.
Questions: Why are some reactions slow at the start and gets faster as it goes on ?
Possibility 1: [ Mg with sulfuric acid ( Fresh Mg used ) ] Rxn is exothermic heat is evolved thus
increase in temperature increases rate of reaction.
Possibility 2: [ Mg with sulfuric acid ( Old Mg used ) ] Mg is corroded and Mg is not exposed to acid
at the start of reaction.
Possibility 3: [ When lump of marble reacts with HCl ] When a lump of marble is used, the marble
breaks down into smaller pieces which increases rate of reactions.