ChemiCal reaCtion rates

BY ELLY KENEDDY NALITSO

0708838163- 0779031329

3/19/2025 ELLY KENEDDY 1

 learning outComes
The learner should be able to:

a. understand and appreciate that chemical reactions take place at different rates
(u)

b. understand the effect of various factors on the rate of chemical reactions and
recognize that many reactions are reversible (u, s)

c. Understand the importance of reversible reactions in industrial processes (u)

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 introDuCtion
When chemicals come into contact with one another, a chemical reaction may or
may not take place. During the reaction, substances that take part in the reaction
are reactants as the substances formed are called products.
During a chemical reaction, there are three main events that usually occur.
The reactants (substances at the start)get used up and new substances
(products) form in their place.
Heat energy is either evolved (exothermic reaction) or taken in(endothermic
reaction).
For a fixed amount of reactant, a fixed amount of product is eventually
formed

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 Cont.…………….
• During a chemical reaction, substances that take in the reaction reduce and
with time, they get used up. The amount of products formed increase with
time.
• A reaction rate is the measure of how much of reactants are consumed or
how much products are formed per unit time .
• It is the measure of how fast the reaction takes place

• Unit = Moles per litre / s

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graph showing Change in the amount of
proDuCts anD reaCtion

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Determination of rate of reaCtion between
magnesium ribbon anD Dilute hyDroChloriC aCiD.
• Materials :

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proCeDure
• Clean a piece of magnesium ribbon using sand paper.
• Measure a known volume of hydrochloric acid into a conical flask. Remove
the rubber bung for a moment and drop in the clean magnesium ribbon.
• Immediately start the stop clock and rapidly replace the rubber bung.
• The volume of hydrogen in the syringe is recorded at regular time intervals
until the reaction is complete
Equation
Mg(g) + 2HCl(aq) MgCl2(aq) + H2(g)

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faCtors that affeCt the rate of reaCtion.
The rate of a chemical reaction is affected by 6 factors.
Concentration

Temperature

Surface area

Catalyst

Pressure

Light.
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 effeCt of ConCentration on the rate of
reaCtion.
Increase in concentration of one or more
of the reactants increase the rate of the
reaction.
Increase in concentration leads to increase
in number of reacting particles which in
turn leads to increase in the number
collisions per unit time.
The reaction proceeds faster and takes a
shorter time to reach completion.

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an experiment to Determine the effeCt of
ConCentration on the rate of reaCtion.
Hypothesis : increase in concentration increases the rate of reaction.
Materials

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 proCeDure
Make a mark with blue or black ink on a piece of paper.
Place 50 cc of 0.05 M sodium thiosulphate solution into a beaker.
Add 10 cc of 1 M hydrochloric acid to the sodium thiosulphate and at the same
time start the stop clock.
Gently shake the mixture to mix the solution well and place the beaker on the
paper over the mark.
Watch the mark through the solution from above the beaker.
Stop the clock when the mark just disappears.
Vary the concentration of the thiosulphate solution by taking 40, 30, 20 and 10
cc each time by adding distilled water to make 50cc.
Tabulate your results including 1/time.
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• Plot graph of volume of sodium thiosulphate solution against 1/time (time-1)
and against time.
• The rate of reaction is proportional to the reciprocal of time (time-1). Your
graphs should appear as shown in figure 11.4a and 11.4b.

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• The mark disappears because the reaction between hydrochloric acid and
sodium thiosulphate forms a precipitate of Sulphur which renders the mixture
opaque.
NaS2O3(aq) + 2HCl(aq) → 2NaCl(aq) + S(s) + H2O(l) + SO2(g)
• Figure 11.4a shows that the higher the volume of the sodium thiosulphate, the
less the time taken to form a precipitate.
• Figure 11.4b shows that the rate of the reaction increases with increase in
volume of sodium thiosulphate solution.
Explanation
• The rate of the reaction depends on the frequency with which reacting
particles collide, which frequency depends on the concentration of the
reactants. The higher the concentration, the higher the frequency of
collision and therefore the higher the rate of the chemical reaction.

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investigation of the effeCt of
temperature on the rate of reaCtion
Materials
Sodium thiosulphate
Conical flask
Blue or black mark
White sheet of paper
Measuring cylinder
Heat source
Thermometer
Beaker
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 proCeDure.
• Measure 50cc of sodium thiosulphate made by dissolving 20g of thiosulphate
in 500cc in a beaker and note its temperature.
• Place the beaker on a piece of paper marked with a cross.
• Add 10cc of hydrochloric acid(2M) to the thiosulphate solution and swirl the
mixture. At the same time start the stop clock.
• Look through the mixture and note the time it takes for the cross to disappear.
• Repeat the experiment with sodium sulphate solution heated to different
temperatures e.g. , 30C ,40C, 50c and 50C.
• Each case note the time for the cross to disappear
• Tabulate your results including 1/time. Plot graphs of temperature against
1/time.
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• Figure 11.5a shows that the higher the temperature the less the time taken to
form a precipitate.
• Figure 11.5b shows that the rate of the reaction increases with increase in
temperature.

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 explanation.
• When the temperature is increased, the reacting particles gain more
kinetic energy and move at a greater speed.
• The frequency at which the reacting particles collide increases and thus,
the rate of the reaction increases.
• Therefore, the higher the temperature, the higher the rate of reaction.

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 effeCt of a Catalyst on the rate of
reaCtion
• A catalyst is a substance which alters the rate of chemical reactions without
undergoing any overall chemical change itself.

• Most catalysts speed up the rate of reaction. The greater the amount of the
catalyst but within the limits, the higher the rate of reaction.

• Powdered catalysts offer a larger surface area over which the reaction takes
place and therefore are more effective than one in lump form.

• Catalysts remain unchanged chemically after a reaction has taken place.

• A catalyst
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which slows down a reaction is called a negative catalyst.
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CharaCteristiCs of a Catalyst
• A catalyst is unchanged chemically at the end of the reaction.
• A small amount of catalyst is able to bring about significant change in a
chemical reaction.
• A catalyst does not affect the position of chemical equilibrium of reversible
reactions.
• A catalyst does not initiate a reaction, it only accelerates a reaction that is
already taking place.
• A catalyst is specific to a particular chemical reaction.

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 proCeDure.
• Place 100 cm3of 0.1 M hydrogen peroxide in a conical
flask. Add 0.5 g of manganese(IV) oxide to the
hydrogen peroxide in conical flask.
• Then set up the experiment as shown in figure above.
• record the volume of oxygen in the syringe at regular
intervals until the reaction is complete.
• Repeat the experiment using 1 g of manganese(IV)
oxide.
• When the graphs of volume of oxygen against time are
plotted using the same axes, they appear as shown in
figure 11.6.
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NB. The rate of reaction increases when the catalyst is used. A catalyst lowers
activation energy so that more molecules can react.
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effeCt of surfaCe area on the rate of
reaCtion
Materials
• Retort stand
• Dilute HCL
• Conical flask
• Calcium carbonate
• Delivery tubes
• syringe
• Stop watch

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 proCeDure
• Pour 20 cm3of 1 M hydrochloric acid in a test-tube.
• To the conical flask add 10 g of calcium carbonate lumps and then set up
the experiment as shown in figure above.
• Record the volume of carbon dioxide in the syringe at regular intervals
until the reaction is complete.
• Repeat the experiment using the same mass of powdered calcium
carbonate.
• Plot a graph of volume of carbon dioxide produced against time
• When the graphs of volume of carbon dioxide against time for both
powdered calcium carbonate and calcium carbonate lumps, are plotted
using the same axes.
• They appear as shown in figure 11.7.
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Note
• Solid react much more
rapidly when powdered than
when in large lumps.
Explanation
• This is because reactions
with solids take place at the
surface.
• Powdered solids present a
large surface area over which
the reaction occurs than
solids in lump form.

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 other faCtors.
Pressure
• Pressure affect reactions which occur in gas phase only. High pressure brings gas
molecules
closer so they collide more frequently leading to increase in the rate of the reaction.
• Light
• Some reactions are speeded p considerably when exposed to bright sun light.The
molecules absorb energy in form of light rather than heat, such reaction are called
photochemical reactions.
Processes which are affected by light include;
• Photosynthesis, in which plants are unable to manufacture starch when placed in the
dark.
• Decomposition of silver bromide into silver and bromine, a basis of photography.
• Photographic film consists of tiny silver bromide crystals. When light falls on the
film, it causes the decomposition of the bromide and the extent of decomposition
depends upon the brightness of the light.
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 reversible reaCtions
• This is a reaction which occurs in both forward and backward directions at the
same time.
Examples

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 inDustrial preparation of ammonia (haber
proCess)
• Dry nitrogen and hydrogen in the ratio of one to three respectively, are passed
over a catalyst of iron with some traces of aluminium oxide present.
• The reaction occurs at the surface of the catalyst; therefore, the catalyst
should be finely divided to increase the surface area over which the reaction
occurs.
• Aluminium oxide improves the performance of the catalyst by making it more
porous thus providing a higher surface area for the reaction.
• The temperature is between 450C – 500C. The gases are under a pressure of
250 atmospheres to 500 atmospheres. Ammonia is produced.
N2(g) + 3H2(g) → 2NH3(g)

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 Cont.……..
• Ammonia is removed from the mixture of gases by cooling the mixture with a
freezing mixture.
• It is only ammonia that liquefies and can be removed from the mixture.
• The unreacted nitrogen and hydrogen are recycled
Note
• Nitrogen used in this process is obtained by fractional distillation of liquid air
and hydrogen is obtained from natural gas or electrolysis of brine.

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uses of ammonia.
pH Adjustment: Helps control acidity in industrial wastewater.
Used as a building block for producing certain drugs, such as sulfa drugs
Ammonia solutions are used for cleaning glass, surfaces, and removing
stains.
Fertilizer: Ammonia is a key ingredient in fertilizers like ammonium
nitrate, urea, and ammonium sulfate, essential for plant growth.
Manufacturing Chemicals: Used to produce nitric acid, hydrogen
cyanide, and various amines.
Plastics and Textiles: Used in the production of synthetic fibers like nylon
and rayon.
Explosives: Acts as a precursor for ammonium nitrate, used in explosives.

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inDustrial manufaCture of sulphuriC aCiD
by the ContaCt proCess
The raw materials are sulphur, oxygen and water.
The reaction vessel is a
Stage 1: preparation of sulphur dioxide
• Sulphur is burnt in air to produce sulphur dioxide
S(s) + O2 (g) → SO2 (g)
• Sulphur dioxide may contain some impurities such
as arsenic compounds which may ‘poison the
catalyst’, that is, make the catalyst ineffective.
• Therefore, sulphur dioxide is cleaned to remove the
impurities then is dried.
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• Stage II: Conversion of sulphur dioxide to sulphur trioxide
• Then sulphur dioxide is mixed with air and passed along heated pipes
containing pellets of vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) (catalyst) at a temperature of
450 – 500 C under a pressure of 200 atmospheres. Sulphur trioxide is formed.
2SO2 (g) + O2 (g) ⇌ 2 SO3 (g)
• Sulphur trioxide formed is dissolved in concentrated sulphuric acid to produce
a fuming liquid called oleum.
SO3 (g) + H2SO4 (l) → H2S2O7 (l)

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• Stage III: Conversion of sulphur trioxide to acid

• The oleum is diluted with a known amount of

water to give concentrated sulphuric acid.

H2S2O7 (l) + H2O (l) → H2SO4 (l)

• Note: Sulphur trioxide is not dissolved in water

directly because the reaction is too exothermic.

• The heat produced from the reaction vapourises

the acid forming only tiny droplets of the acid
leading to a spray of sulphuric acid which would
affect the workers in the factory.
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properties of sulphuriC aCiD
• It is a colourless and ordourless oily liquid

• Has a high affinity for water (hygroscopic)

and that is why it is used as a drying agent

• It has a density of 1.86g/cc and boils at

338C

• It does not show any acidic properties

unless water is present.
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uses of sulphuriC aCiD

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uses of sulphuriC aCiD
• It is used in the manufacture of detergents
• It is used in car batteries and accumulators as
an electrolyte
• It is used in manufacture of fertilizers such as
ammonium sulphate
NH3(g) + H2SO4 (aq) → (NH4)2SO4 (s)
• Used in extraction of metals and also cleaning
them prior to plating
• Used in manufacture of paints, dyes and
explosives

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always aim for
exCellenCe
BY ELLY KENEDDY NALITSO
0708838163- 0779031329

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