Grade 8 Science

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Rate of reaction Lab – Effect of Surface Area

The following lab will indicate the effect of surface area on a chemical reaction. The reaction in this lab is
the reaction between vinegar and chalk.

Question: What affect will an increase of surface area have on a chemical reaction? Will the ground
chalk or the entire piece of chalk react faster?

Hypothesis –
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Materials:

vinegar – 100 mL

chalk – 2 small pieces

a mortar and pestle

Stopwatch

Procedure:

1. Grind 1 piece of chalk using a mortar and pestle

2. Leave the 2nd piece of chalk whole

3. Prepare stopwatch to time the reactions.

4. Add 100 mL of vinegar to the ground chalk.

5. Observe the reaction and record observations.

6. Time the reaction and record.

7. Add 100 mL to the entire piece of chalk

8. Observe the reaction and record observations

9. Time the reaction and record.

10. Which piece of chalk produced a faster reaction? – Why do you think this is?
Data and Observations:
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Conclusion:

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