Rate of Reactions

Rate/Speed of Reaction
What does rate involves?
rate =
=

What do we need to know about Rate of

reactions? (r.o.r)

1.Measurements
2.Factors affecting rate of reaction

Measurements
Lets consider a particular reaction:

How to measure these changes?

Mass
Volume
Pressure
*We will measure either the APPEARANCE or
DISAPPEARANCE/CONSUMPTION of those components.

Change in Volume

Change in Mass

Change in Pressure (Data

Logging)

What affects the differences in rate?

Collision Theory
1. When particles collide, they react.
2. They need to also collide with sufficient energy and at the right
orientation.
Activation Energy
Need to have minimum amount of energy. Any extra energy will help
to speed up the rate of reaction(due to ability to increase opportunity
for collision).

Consider the following reaction:

Magnesium and hydrochloric acid react
because chloride ions collide with atoms
of magnesium.
Reactions occurs at the surface of the
magnesium ribbon due to collisions with
sufficient energy between chloride ions
and magnesium atoms
No reaction occurs at the inner part of
the magnesium ribbon because chloride
ions cannot collide with them.

Factors affecting the rate of reaction

Particle size of reactant
Concentration of a solution
Pressure
Temperature
Catalyst

Particle Size of a reactant

More surface area to volume

rate More effective collision

Less surface area to volume ratio

Less effective collisions

Effect of Particle Size

Note that the particle size will never affect
the volume of gas produced but the rate of
the reaction!

Concentration

Pressure (Applies to gaseous phase

reaction only)
Increase in pressure leads to a
decrease in volume
This is similar to being more
concentrated.
The number of collisions
increases.
This speeds up the rate of
reaction.

Temperature
Provides energy to overcome minimum activation
energy, .
Further provides additional energy to increase kinetics
of particles and allow sufficient energy for successful
collisions
E.g. At higher temperature, food left out in
environment rot faster.

Investigate the effect of temperature

Low temperature Slower for A to disappear

High temperature faster for A to disappear

Catalyst
A catalyst is a substance that changes the speed of a reaction
without itself being used up in the reaction.
Two functions of catalyst
Speed up reaction
Slower reactions (normally we call them retardants)
Purpose of Catalyst
To lower the activation energy

Catalyst
Consider the reaction:
2

+2

()

How to catalyst work?

They provide an ALTERNATIVE PATHWAY/ Shortcut

Characteristics of Catalyst
Usually transition metals (they can have different oxidation states) or
their compounds
Usually catalyze one reaction only.
Cannot be used up in the reaction, can be re-used since they are not
consumed.
Change rate of reaction
Only need in minute/small amount.

Rate of catalyze reaction

Factors affecting them:

Temperature
Concentration
Surface area
Pressure (only gas phase)

Application of Catalyst
Haber Process (Iron catalyst, )
Contact Process (Vanadium (V) oxide,
)
Enzymes
- Human Body (Saliva)
- Washing Detergents (contains Lipase, Protease)
- Production of Alcohol from glucose
Food
- Papaya make meat tender.

Light Sensitive Reactions (IGCSE syllabus)

Photosynthesis

Enzyme required
- Chlorophyll

Investigate the effect of light

Effects of CFC (Chloroflurocarbon)

Source of Chlorine:
Half eqn: +

+
Half eqn:
+ +
Overall eqn:
+ 2

End of chapter