Page 117 Data-based question: Determining the
rate of reaction
1.
2. The initial rate from 0 to 2 minutes is the fastest
rate of reaction as this is the steepest part of the
curve. As time progresses, the steepness of the
curve decreases and therefore the rate of
reaction is decreasing.
3. Slope of tangent is approximately 19 cm3 min–1.
Values given between 17 and 21 cm3 min–1 would
be acceptable.
4. The rate of change in carbon dioxide gas evolved
is slowing from minute to minute. It can be
estimated that the time at which the reaction will
stop would be between 14 to 16 minutes.
Page 121 Experiment: How does changing the
temperature conditions affect the rate of a
chemical reaction?
1–4. Dependent on the quantitative data collected.
5. An increase in the temperature will result in a
decrease in the time taken for the black cross to
disappear. This equates to an increase in the rate
of the reaction.
6. An increase in thermal energy in the reaction
mixture will result in an increase in kinetic
energy of the reacting particles. This increase in
kinetic energy will increase the frequency of
collisions between reacting particles and also the
proportion of particles that have enough energy
to overcome the activation energy barrier.
© Oxford University Press 2018
Page 122 Experiment: How does changing the
concentration of a reactant affect the rate of a
chemical reaction?
1–3. Dependent on the quantitative data collected.
4. The formation of solid sulfur is the reason why
the solution turns cloudy and eventually the
black cross will disappear. Therefore, the time
taken for the black cross to disappear is
indicative of the rate at which the products of the
reaction are formed.
5. The independent variable is the concentration of
sodium thiosulfate and the dependent variable is
the time taken for the black cross to disappear.
6. The total volume of the reaction mixture is being
controlled, as a change in volume between the
various trials would change the depth of the
solution above the black cross. If the depth of
solution was changed, this would affect the
qualitative observations of the black cross and in
turn, the measured value of time taken for the
reaction to occur.
7. Increasing the concentration of a reactant
increases the number of particles for a given
volume of solution. This results in an increase in
the frequency of collisions and in turn an
increase in the rate of the reaction.
8. As time progresses the rate of reaction will
decrease until the reaction finishes. The initial
rate of reaction is the fastest rate for any
chemical reaction. This is because at t = 0, the
highest concentration of reactant particles is
present in the reaction mixture. Initially there
will be a high frequency of collisions. As the
reaction progresses, the concentration of
reactants decreases and the frequency of
collisions decreases.
Page 125 Experiment: How flammable is
cornstarch?
1. The compressed cornstarch on the spoon will
slowly burn in the Bunsen burner flame. The
cornstarch expelled from the dropping pipette
into the Bunsen burner flame bursts into flames.
2. The rate of reaction increases significantly when
the surface area of the reactants is increased. By
increasing the number of particles which are
exposed to the flame, the rate of combustion of
the corn starch also increases. It is analogous to
increasing the concentration of a reactant.
Increasing the surface area of a reactant is a
cheap and effective way that industry increases
the overall rate of a reaction.
1
Page 125 Experiment: How does the surface area Page 128 Data-based question: Stratospheric
of a reactant affect the rate of a chemical ozone data
reaction? 1.
Gas Percentage increase (%)
1–4. Dependent on the quantitative data collected.
5. CaCO3(s) + 2HCl(aq) → CaCl2(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l) 1980– 1990– 2000– 2010–
6. In the reaction between calcium carbonate and 1989 1999 2009 2017
hydrochloric acid, the gas carbon dioxide is
produced. By monitoring the loss of mass of the CO2 3.9 5.1 4.3 3.9
reaction mixture as carbon dioxide is lost to the
atmosphere, we are able to monitor the rate of CH4 8.1 3.2 0.8 1.4
this chemical reaction.
N2O 2.3 2.3 2.4 1.7
7. The independent variable is the surface area of
calcium carbonate and the dependent variable is
the formation of carbon dioxide gas or the rate of 2. There is an average increase of 4.3% each decade
loss of mass of the reaction mixture. in the concentration of carbon dioxide. The graph
8. The mass of calcium carbonate must remain illustrates that there is a steady and constant
constant while the surface area changes. This increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
ensures that the number of moles of calcium Overall, there has been a 21% increase in the last
carbonate reacting remains constant. The 40 years. The concentration of methane in the
volume and concentration of hydrochloric acid in atmosphere does not change in a consistent
each different experiment must remain constant. manner when compared to carbon dioxide. The
The same conical flask must be used in each average increase for each decade is 3.7%. For
experiment so that the cross-sectional area of the dinitrogen oxide, the increase in concentration
opening of the flask is constant. has been steady.
9. An increase in surface area of a reactant has the 3. CO2 400 ppm, CH4 1775 ppb, N2O 328 ppb. Their
same effect on the rate of reaction as does ratio is 1220 : 5.41 : 1.00.
increasing the concentration of the reactant. An 4. Natural sources of nitrogen oxides include
increasing surface area means that more lightning, volcanoes and bacteria. Human-made
particles are able to react with the hydrochloric emissions include fossil fuel combustion from
acid thereby increasing the frequency of power generation and transportation. The
successful collisions and in turn increasing the scientific community has proven a link between
rate of the chemical reaction. global development and the increase of
10. As time progresses the rate of reaction will greenhouse gas emissions.
decrease until the reaction finishes. The initial 5. The atmosphere around the globe is not isolated
rate of reaction is the fastest rate for any to individual countries. When a country creates a
chemical reaction. This is because at t = 0, the large amount of greenhouse gases, the effects are
highest concentration of reactant particles is global as opposed to regional. The fight against
present in the reaction mixture. Initially there increasing greenhouse gas emissions and the
will be a high frequency of collisions. As the accelerated increase in the Earth’s temperature
reaction progresses, the concentration of is a global issue.
reactants decreases and the frequency of
collisions decreases.
11. The final loss of mass in each investigation
should be identical, as the same stoichiometric
amounts of calcium carbonate and hydrochloric
acid are being used in the different experiments.
Only the rate of loss of mass is altered by
changing the surface area.

2 © Oxford University Press 2018

 Summative assessment
The effect of change in concentration on the rate of reaction
1. All chemical reactions have an activation energy that reacting particles must
overcome in order for the reaction to occur; at a given temperature a certain
proportion of the reacting particles will have sufficient energy to overcome the
activation energy barrier.

2. All matter found on Earth is finite and there is recognition in the scientific
community of the need to use important resources efficiently; the cost to
industry of increasing the rate of a chemical reaction by increasing the
temperature of the reaction mixture or the concentration of the reactants, can
be prohibitively expensive; cost effective methods such as catalysts increase
the rate of reaction.

3. a) CaCO3(s) + 2HCl(aq) → CaCl2(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)

(reactant formula; product formula; balanced equation)
b) Curve A represents the highest concentration of hydrochloric acid; this
curve has the steepest slope over the initial stages of the reaction;
Curve C represents the lowest concentration of hydrochloric acid; this
curve has the least steep slope over the initial stages of the reaction.
c) All three chemical reactions have the same number of moles of calcium
carbonate; the same volume of carbon dioxide is produced in each
reaction.
d) Calcium carbonate is the limiting reagent.

4. Design should include clear statement of:

 research question that is focused,
 suitable hypothesis is suggested; hypothesis is testable; hypothesis is
based on scientific reasoning
 independent and dependent variables,
 rationale for the method and practical details, including
o correct names of apparatus and volume
o amounts and/or concentration of chemicals being used
 consideration of safety, ethical and environmental issues
 description of the step-by-step methodology for the investigation,
including how the variables are controlled
 description of how qualitative observations will be recorded
 identification of quantitative data that will be recorded and the design of
data tables to present this information
 analysis of data and the formulation of a conclusion that is described and
justified
Marks awarded on a scale from 0 marks for a completely inadequate design to
10 marks for an exemplary design.

Activation energy of a simple chemical reaction

5. Quantitative data should be presented in a way that allows the reader to
analyze the data and establish if a trend exists; data should be recorded to
reflect the level of precision with which it was collected.

6. Temperature (°C) Temperature (K) Time (s)

-1
1 / T (s )
10 283 250 0.00400
21 294 87.3 0.0115
37 310 31.2 0.0321
42 315 25.9 0.0386

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3
7.
Temperature versus time

300

200
time (s)

100

0
280 290 300 310 320
temperature (K)

Points plotted accurately; title recorded and axis labelled; smooth curve drawn;
anomalous data identified.

8. As the temperature increases, the time taken for the reaction to occur
decreases.

9. See answer to question 6.

10.
Temperature versus 1/T
0.05

0.04

0.03
1/T (s–1)

0.02

0.01

0
280 290 300 310 320
temperature (K)
Points plotted accurately; straight line drawn; there is a linear relationship
between temperature and 1/T.

11. A graph is an effective means of communicating the effect the independent

variable will have on the dependent variable; sometimes a line of best fit is
required to illustrate the relationship between the independent and dependent
variable if the data does not follow an exact linear relationship.

12. A comment describing the linear relationship between the independent and
dependent variable and how close the data is to the trendline; the identification
of anomalous data that lies outside the trendline.

4 © Oxford University Press 2018

 13. As the concentration of a reactant increases the rate of reaction also increases;
a large number of reactant particles will result in an increase in the frequency
of collisions; the number of particles with sufficient energy to overcome the
activation energy barrier will increase with an increase in the concentration.

The importance of catalysts

14. Catalysis has an important impact on sustainability because it results in less
pollution; as by-products are often not produced.

15. In energy production, catalysis is allowing energy sources to be used which

were previously more difficult to use, to replace dirtier energy sources such as
coal, oil or gas; examples are the use of water which can be split into hydrogen
fuel and oxygen gas and other materials such as carbon dioxide and biomass.

16. Computers are being used to model catalysts; allowing research and
intervention to progress at much faster rates.

17. The benefits of using cheaper, more abundant metals are that they will be able
to be used more frequently; and as they are more abundant the supply will not
be limited.

© Oxford University Press 2018

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