Chapter 1 Rate Of Reaction

1.1

Rate Of Reaction

Chemistry Form 5

Chapter 1 Rate Of Reaction

Rate Of Reaction
The meaning of rate of reaction
The speed at which a reaction proceeds is called
the rate of reaction.

Some reactions are very fast. For example, a

nuclear explosion.

However, some reactions are extremely slow.

Years later.

For example, rusting of iron.

TheAcar
becomes
rusty
brand
new car
Chemistry Form 5

Chapter 1 Rate Of Reaction

Rate Of Reaction
Examples of fast reactions

Burning of natural gas

Burning a sparkler

Reaction of potassium with water

A fast reaction takes a few seconds to complete
Chemistry Form 5

Chapter 1 Rate Of Reaction

Rate Of Reaction
Examples of slow reactions

Ripening of tomato

photosynthesis process

Rotting Of Food

Hardening of Plaster of Paris

A slow reaction takes hours, days, months or

even years to complete.
Chemistry Form 5

Chapter 1 Rate Of Reaction

Rate Of Reaction
Observable changes during a chemical reaction
involving evolution of gas

Magnesium

reacts

with

sulphuric acid to produce

hydrogen gas.

H2SO4(aq) + Mg(s) MgSO4(aq) + H2(g)

Chemistry Form 5

Chapter 1 Rate Of Reaction

Rate Of Reaction
Observable changes during a chemical reaction
involving decrease in mass of reactants

Calcium carbonate reacts

with hydrochloric acid to
release carbon dioxide gas.
Thus the mass of the
contents in the conical flask
decreases with time.

2HCl(aq) + CaCO3(s) CaCl2(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)

Chemistry Form 5

Chapter 1 Rate Of Reaction

Rate Of Reaction
Observable changes during a chemical reaction
involving formation of precipitate

Sodium thiosulphate reacts

with hydrochloric acid to
form
yellow
sulphur
precipitate.

Na2S2O3(aq) + 2HCl(aq) 2NaCl(aq) + SO2(g) + S(s)+ H2O(l)

Chemistry Form 5

Chapter 1 Rate Of Reaction

Rate Of Reaction
Determining the average rate of reaction

Reaction is represented by the equation below:

Zn(s) + 2HCl(aq) ZnCl2(aq) + H2(g)
6 grams of zinc powder is added to 100 cm3 of dilute hydrochloric acid, 0.2 mol
dm-3. The stop clock is started at the same time. The time taken to collect the
maximum volume of hydrogen gas is recorded.
Chemistry Form 5

Chapter 1 Rate Of Reaction

Rate Of Reaction
Determining the average rate of reaction
Result

Total volume of hydrogen gas collected = 50.0 cm3

Time taken for reaction to complete = 40 seconds
Thus the average rate of reaction = 50.0 cm3 s-1 = 1.25 cm3 s-1
40

Chemistry Form 5

Chapter 1 Rate Of Reaction

Rate Of Reaction
Determining the instantaneous rate of reaction
Example
Calcium carbonate reacts with hydrochloric acid according to the equation:
CaCO3(s)+2HCl(aq) CaCl2(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)
A graph of volume of carbon dioxide against time is plotted

Chemistry Form 5

Chapter 1 Rate Of Reaction

Rate Of Reaction
Determining the instantaneous rate of reaction
Explanation

Hydrogen ion

water molecules

CaCO 3 ions

The instantaneous rate at a given time is determined by calculating the gradient

of the graph at that time.
The instantaneous rate of reaction at time t1 is a cm3 min-1.
b
The instantaneous rate of reaction at time t2 is c cm3 min-1.
d
The instantaneous rate of reaction at time t1 is higher than at time t2. This is
because the concentration of the reactants at time t1 is higher.
As time proceeds, more reactants have reacted. Thus the concentration of the
reactants deceases with time.
Chemistry Form 5

The End