RATE OF REACTION

FORM 5 CHAPTER 1

1.1 RATE OF REACTION

Definition
Speed

at which reactants are converted into

products in a chemical reaction.

Examples of fast/slow reactions.

Type of rxn
Liberation of
gas

Fast rxn
Carbonate compound + dilute HCl
Na2CO3 + 2HCl 2NaCl + CO2 + H2O

Slow rxn
Photosynthesis
6CO2 + 6H2O C6H12O6 + 6O2

Precipitation

AgNO3 + NaCl AgCl + NaNO3

Na2S2O3 + 2HCl 2NaCl + S + SO2 +

H2 O

Heating metal
in air

Heating of potassium
4K + O2 2K2O

Heating of copper
2Cu + O2 2CuO

Fast

reaction;

time

taken is short

So, the reactants is quickly converted to the

products.

Thus, the rate of reaction is high.

Slow

reaction;

time

taken is long

So, the reactants is slowly converted to the

products.

Thus, the rate of reaction is low.

 So;
What

is the relation between rates of reaction with time?

When

the time taken is short, the rate of reaction is higher,

When

the time taken is longer, the rate of reaction is lower,

Rate

of reaction is directly proportional with 1/time

Rate

of reaction is inversely proportional with time

Measuring the Rate of Reaction

Rate of reaction =

Changes in selected quantity

_______________________________________________

Time taken

Suitable changes;
volume of gas liberated
precipitate formation
change in mass during the reaction
colour changes
temperature changes
pressure changes

Average rate of reaction

The

average value of the rate of reaction within a

specified period of time.
Average rate of reaction

Changes in selected quantity

____________________________________________

Time taken

Notes:
Reaction with high ROR, completed in short time.
Reaction with low ROR, completed in longer time.

Rate of reaction at given/instantaneous time

The

actual rate of reaction at that instant .

Also

known as instantaneous rate of reaction.

Instantaneous rate of reaction = Gradient of the curve at that instant

Solutions:
- Draw a Tangent
- Find the Gradient

1.2 FACTORS AFFECTING THE RATE OF REACTION

Why these two curves different?

a) Total surface area/particle size

of solid reactant
b) Concentration of reactant
c) Temperature of reactant
d)Use of catalyst
e) Pressure of gaseous reactant

1.3 COLLISION THEORY

To better understand of collision theory you must know a few
things related to the theory which is;

Chemical equation
Collision
Effective collision
Activation energy
Collision frequency
Effective collision frequency
Energy profile diagram

What is the Collision Theory?

During a reaction, the particles of the
reactants must collide with each other, for bond
breaking and then bond formation to occur to
produce product.
Bond breaking : absorb heat energy
Bond formation : release heat energy

What is the Collision Theory?

Those

collisions which achieved a minimum

activation energy and with the correct
orientation will result in a reaction. These
collisions are called effective collisions.
If the particles collide with less energy than
activation energy or with wrong orientation, it
will not result in reaction, is called ineffective
collisions.

Effective Collisions

Those collisions which achieved a minimum

activation energy (Ea) and with the correct
orientation, will result in a reaction.
Activation Energy

Activation energy is the energy barrier that

must be overcome by the colliding particles of
the reactants in order for reaction to occur.

(a) Effect of Surface Area/Size on the ROR

SMALLER size solid reactant

Bigger total surface area per volume

Higher frequency of effective collision

Higher rate of reaction

BIGGER size solid reactant

Smaller total surface area per volume
Lower frequency of effective collision
Lower rate of reaction

Volume of gas vs time graph

V
Volume of
gas / cm3

II

t1
I : Small marble
II : Large marble

t2

Time / min

Graph I is more steeper than graph II

Thus, the gradient of graph I is more than

graph II

Thus, the rate of reaction for the experiment I

is higher than experimen II

Question: Why the total volume of gas is

same?
Answer: The number of mole of reactant
is same

(a) Effect of Surface Area/Size on the ROR

When the size of fixed mass of solid reactant (ex: CaCO3) is smaller;

The total surface area per volume exposed to collision with other reactant (name the reactant)
particles is bigger.

Thus, the number of collision among the reacting particles at the surface of the solid reactants
increases. frequency of collission is higher.

Thus, the number of collision achieved the activation energy to become effective collision is also
increases.

This lead to an increase in the frequency of effective collision.

Hence, a higher rate of reaction.

(b) Effect of Concentration on ROR

When the concentration of the solution of a reactant increases;

The number of particles per unit volume of the solution of the reactant also
increases.
Thus, the number of collision among the reacting particles increases.
Frequency of collission is higher.
Thus, the number of collision achieved the activation energy to become
effective collision is also increases.
This lead to an increase in the frequency of effective collision.
Hence, a higher rate of reaction.

(c) Effect of Temperature on ROR

When the temperature of a reactant increases;
The

kinetic energy of reacting particles will increase, so the

particles moves faster.

Thus,

the number of collision among the reacting particles

increases. Frequency of collision is higher.

Thus,

the number of collision achieved the activation energy to

become effective collision is also increases.

This

lead to an increase in the frequency of effective collision.

Hence,

a higher rate of reaction.

(d) Effect of Catalyst on ROR

Definition

Catalyst is a substance which alters

the rate of reaction while it remains
chemically unchanged at the end of
the reaction.

(d) Effect of Catalyst on ROR

Properties of Catalyst

Energy

Reaction without catalyst

Ea

Ec

Reaction with catalyst

Ea : Activation energy
without catalyst
Ec : Activation Energy

Reactant

with catalyst

Product
Reaction path

When the catalyst is presence;

The catalyst allows the reaction to take place
through an alternative path which requires a
lower activation energy (Ea).
Thus, more collision among the reacting
particles are able to achieve the lower
activation energy.
Thus, the number of collision achieved the
activation energy to become effective
collision is also increases.
This lead to an increase in the frequency of
effective collision.
Hence, a higher rate of reaction.

(e) Effect of Pressure on ROR

When the pressure of the gas of a reactant increases;
The

number of particles per unit volume of the gas of the

reactant also increases.

Thus,

the number of collision among the reacting particles

increases. The frequency of collision is increases.

Thus,

the number of collision achieved the activation energy to

become effective collision is also increases.

This

lead to an increase in the frequency of effective collision.

Hence,

a higher rate of reaction.