Senior High School

General Chemistry 2
Quarter 3 - Module 4
Week 4: Rate of Reaction, Rate Law and Catalysis

Department of Education ● Republic of the Philippines

 Lesson
Reaction Rates and Collision Theory
4.1
What I Need to Know
This module discusses about the colligative properties of solutions and determination of
molar mass from colligative property data. After going through this module, you are expected to:
1. Describe how various factors influence the rate of a reaction (STEM_GC11CKIIIi-j-130);
2. Explain reactions qualitatively in terms of molecular collisions (STEM_GC11CKIIIi-j-136).

What Is It
In the previous lessons we discover the colligative properties of a solution, the mechanism
of thermodynamics and enthalpy. Now, in this lesson, we will look more closely at the
relationships and the laws that govern chemical reactions.
If you recall your previous lessons, chemical reactions are tackled most of the time. In fact,
chemical reactions exist in all factors of chemistry. After understanding thermochemistry, let’s
move on to the next branch of chemistry which is chemical kinetics. Chemical kinetics is the area
of chemistry concerned with the speeds, or rates, at which a chemical reaction occurs. When we
say kinetic in physics, this involves movement or change of actions. Therefore, when we say
kinetic energy this basically means an energy available because of the movement of an object.
But, here in chemistry, we refer kinetic as a rate of reaction, which is the change in the
concentration of a reactant or a product with time (M/s).
We know that any reaction can be represented by the general equation,
Reactants Products
This means that given a time of a reaction, all reactant will be consumed and products will
be formed. As a result, we can monitor the progress of the reaction be observing the decrease in
concentration of the reactants or increase in the concentration of products. A diagram below will
help you picture out reaction rate. In this figure, reactant A is being consumed and product B is
being formed.

Figure 1. The progress of reaction A → B at 10-s intervals over a period of 60 s. Initially, only
A molecules (gray spheres) are present

As you can see, as the reactant is consumed, product also forms. This is also true in their
concentration. Initially, molecule A has high concentration while molecule B has none, but as the
reaction proceeds the concentration of molecule A decreases while the concentration of molecule
B increases. With this in mind, it will be more convenient to express the reaction rate in terms of
the change in concentration over time. This can be expressed using Equation 4.1.1.

Rate = or Rate = Equation 4.1.1

Where ∆A represents the change in concentration of molecule A in terms of Molarity (M)
and ∆t is the period of time. Notice that in ∆A there is a negative sign, this is because the rate of
reactant decreases over time. The rate of a reaction is a positive quantity, so a minus sign is
needed in the rate expression of the reactant to make the rate positive.

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 There are various factors that may affect the rate of reaction. The general idea behind this
is that when a factor excites the particles and increases the number of collisions between them,
the reaction rate will be increased. Whereas, if the factor decreases the number of collisions, this
will also results to a decrease in reaction rate.
Collision theory states that for a reaction to occur between two particles;
a. The reacting particles must collide with each other.
b. The reacting particles must collide with a certain minimum energy called as the
activation energy. Ea. Activation energy refers to the minimum energy required to
break the bonds for the reaction to take place and new bonds of product to form.
c. The reacting particles collide in the correct orientation.
However, a chemical reaction does not automatically happen when particles collide. Some
collisions do not result in a chemical reaction. Such collisions are called ineffective collisions.
But how do we know that there are ineffective collisions? According to the collision theory, the
orientation and the energy of the colliding particles determine whether or not a collision will lead to
a chemical reaction.

Factors that influences the rate of reaction

A. Concentration of Reactants: A higher concentration of reactants leads to more
effective collisions per unit time, which results to an increase in the reaction rate (cannot be
applied for zero-order reactions). We can explain this using the collision theory which says
that if we double the number of reactant molecules, there will be twice as many collisions
occurring at the same time. Similarly, a higher concentration of products tends to be
associated with a lower reaction rate. Use the partial pressure of reactants in a gaseous
state as a measure of their concentration.
B. Temperature: Most of the time, an increase in temperature is accompanied by an
increase in the reaction rate. Temperature is a measure of the kinetic energy of a system,
so higher temperature indicates higher average kinetic energy of molecules and more
collisions per unit time. There is one general rule (but not applicable to all cases) that states
that in each time the temperature is increased by 10°C, the reaction rate will be doubled.
We can also explain this with the Collision theory. We know that as the temperature
increases the more excited the particles become and the more they will collide with each
other. Therefore, the average kinetic energy of all molecules is a direct function of
temperature.
C. Medium or State of Matter: The rate of a chemical reaction depends on the medium
in which the reaction occurs. It may make a difference whether a medium is aqueous or
organic; polar or nonpolar; or liquid, solid, or gaseous. Reactions involving liquids and
especially solids depend on the available surface area. For solids, the shape and size of
the reactants make a big difference in the reaction rate.
D. Presence of Catalysts and Competitors: Catalysts (e.g., enzymes) lower the
activation energy of a chemical reaction and increase the rate of a chemical reaction
without being consumed in the process. Catalysts work by increasing the frequency of
collisions between reactants, altering the orientation of reactants so that more collisions are
effective, reducing intramolecular bonding within reactant molecules, or donating electron
density to the reactants. The presence of a catalyst helps a reaction proceed more quickly
to equilibrium.
E. Pressure: Increasing the pressure of a reaction improves the probability of the reactants
to interact with each other, thus increasing the rate of the reaction. However, this factor is
important for reactions involving gases only.
F. Mixing: Mixing the reactants increases their ability to interact with each other, thus
increasing the rate of a chemical reaction.

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What’s More
Activity 4.1.2. Crossword: Use the definitions as a clue to the word that goes into the
corresponding blank spaces.

ACROSS
1. The change in the concentration of a reactant or a product with time.
3. The theory that states that reacting particles must collide with each other.
5. The minimum energy required to break the bonds for the reaction to take place.
DOWN
2. The factor that increases the rate of reaction but significant only for gases.
4. The factor that can increase the rate of reaction without being consumed in the process.

What I Have Learned

Activity 4.1.3. Explain me! Explain the phenomena/theory involves why certain actions
affects the rate of reaction. Minimum of two sentences.
1. Smaller pieces of charcoal can cook the food faster.
2. Storing food in refrigerator makes food last longer.
3. Small pieces of food are cooked faster.
4. Cooking of food using pressure cooker can be done faster.
5. Using platinum in manufacturing nitric acid reduces the production’s cost.

What I Can Do
Activity 4.1.4. Know me! Answer the following questions. You may refer to books and the
internet to solidify your explanation.
1. What is the relationship between each of the following factors and the reaction rate:
reactant concentration, temperature of the reaction, physical properties of the reactants,
physical and chemical properties of the solvent, and the presence of a catalyst?
2. Why does the reaction rate of virtually all reactions increase with an increase in
temperature? If you were to make a glass of sweetened iced tea the old-fashioned way, by
adding sugar and ice cubes to a glass of hot tea, which would you add first?
3. Explain why an egg cooks more slowly in boiling water in Denver than in New York City.
(Hint: Consider the effect of temperature on reaction rate and the effect of pressure on
boiling point.)

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Lesson
The Rate Law
4.2
What’s In
Last time we learned that the rate of reaction can be expressed using the concentration of
reactants or product over time. We also learned several factors that affect the reaction rate. Now,
we will proceed in learning about rate laws. Here, we will find out the difference between the zero,
first and second order of reaction.

What I Need to Know

This module discusses about the difference between the three rate laws which is the zero,
first and second order of reaction. After going through this module, you are expected to
differentiate zero, first-, and second-order reactions (STEM_GC11PPIIId-j-132).

What’s New
Activity 3.2.1. Match Me! Choose the answer that best matches the definitions below.
Definition Key Terms
_______1. It is an equation describing the rate of reaction A. Differential Rate Law
as influenced by concentration at a given time.
_______2. It is the power to which the concentration of a B. First-order Reaction
single substance is raised in the rate law.
_______3. It shows the dependence of the rate of reaction C. Integrated Rate Law
on concentration
_______4. It shows the changed in concentration over D. Order
time.
_______5. It is a reaction whose rate depends on the E. Rate Law
reactant concentration raised to the first power.
F. Second-order Reaction

What Is It
The rate law is an equation describing the rate of reaction as influenced by concentration at
a given time. Rate law expressions enable us to calculate the rate of a reaction from the rate
constant and reactant concentrations. The rate laws can also be used to determine the
concentrations of reactants at any time during the course of a reaction. We will illustrate this
application by first considering two of the most common rate laws—those applying to reactions
that are first order overall and those applying to reactions that are second order overall. The order
is the power to which the concentration of a single substance is raised in the rate law. In
determining the reaction order from experimental data either the differential rate law or the
integrated rate law can be used. Frequently, the exponents in the rate law are the positive
integers: 0, 1 and 2. Hence, the reactions are zeroth, first, or second order in each reactant.
There are two types of the rate law: the differential rate law and the integrated rate law. The
differential rate law shows the dependence of the rate of reaction on concentration, while the
integrated rate law shows the changed in concentration over time.
Zeroth-Order Reactions
A zeroth-order reaction is one whose rate is independent of concentration; its differential
rate law is rate = k. We refer to these reactions as zeroth order because we could also write their
rate in a form such that the exponent of the reactant in the rate law is 0:
Rate = = k [reactant]0 = k (1) = k
Thus, the rate of a zero-order reaction is a constant, independent of reactant concentration.
The integrated rate law for a zeroth-order reaction has the general form shown in Equation 4.2.1.

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 [A] = [A]0 – kt Equation 4.2.1
where [A]0 is the initial concentration of reactant A, k is the rate constant and t is the time.
In a zeroth-order reaction, the rate constant follows the unit of the reaction rate, typically moles
per liter per second.
The half-life. t1/2, is a timescale in which each half-life represents the reduction of the initial
population to 50% of its original state. We can represent the relationship by following Equation
4.2.2.
t1/2 = Equation 4.2.2
Notice that, for zero-order reactions, the half-life depends on the initial concentration of
reactant and the rate constant.
First-Order Reactions
A first-order reaction (where order = 1) has a rate proportional to the concentration of one
of the reactants. A first-order reaction is a reaction whose rate depends on the reactant
concentration raised to the first power. A common example of a first-order reaction is radioactive
decay, the spontaneous process through which an unstable atomic nucleus breaks into smaller,
more stable fragments.
Let’s have an example to help you understand better the first-order reaction.

The reaction 2O3 3 O2 is a first-order reaction. The rate law is

Rate = = k [A]

Rate = = k [O3]
To solve for the previous differential equation, combine [A] on same side and separate t.

Integrating the differential equation, with limits, from initial time (t 1) to final time, (t2)
∫ ∫
Gives
ln = - ak (t2 – t1)
Assuming that the initial conditions pertain to the start of the reaction (t 1 = 0) and [A]I = [A]0
which is the initial concentration of [A], and [A] is the concentration of [A] at any time t 2, the
equation becomes
ln = -ak t2
Then, you may define k A = ak
ln = -kA t2

[A] = [A]0
The previous equation suggests that for a first-order reaction, [A] decreases exponentially
with time. Accordingly, the rate also decreases exponentially with time. A large rate constant
indicates the rapid decrease in concentration. Obtaining the linear form of the integrated first-order
equation.
ln Equation 4.2.3
The half-life of first order reaction is independent on the initial concentration [A] 0 as shown
in Equation 4.2.4.
= Equation 4.2.4

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Second-order Reaction
The rate law for a second-order reaction generally has the form k[A] 2 for the reaction
aA → product. Also, for the reaction aA + bB → cC + dD, the rate law is expressed as
Rate = k [A][B] Equation 4.2.5
Where A and B are two different reactants. As illustrated, n=2 (n=1 with respect to each of
[A] and [B]).
Integrating the rate law expression gives
Equation 4.2.6

In addition, the half-life for a second-order reaction is

Equation 4.2.6

What’s More
Activity 4.2.2. Let’s do this! Answer the following problems. Write your full solution on your
answer sheet and box the final answer.
The conversion of cyclopropane to propene in the gas phase is a first-order reaction with a
rate constant of 6.7 x 1024 s-1 at 500°C.
A. If the initial concentration of cyclopropane was 0.25 M, what is the concentration after
8.8 min?
B. How long (in minutes) will it take for the concentration of cyclopropane to decrease from
0.25 M to 0.15 M?
C. How long (in minutes) will it take to convert 74 percent of the starting material?

What I Have Learned

Activity 4.2.3. Explain me! Explain your answer in 2 or more sentences.
On March 11, 2011, the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan was severely damaged
by a huge tsunami caused by a strong earthquake. As a consequence, radioactive materials have
accidentally spilled out of the power plant, exposing its immediate environment to high doses of
radiation. Since then, scientists have been monitoring the amount of radiation in the area.
Unfortunately, radiation is still high until 2016. Explain why even after almost five years, radiation
is still high in the vicinity of the power plant.

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Lesson
4.3
Catalysis
What’s In
Previously, we learned that catalyst is one of the factors that can affect the rate of reaction.
In this lesson, we will go deeper about how the catalyst affects the reaction rate and learn the
different types of catalyst.

What I Need to Know

This module discusses about activation energy and catalyst. After going through this
module, you are expected to:
1. Explain activation energy and how a catalyst affects the reaction rate
(STEM_GC11CKIIIi-j-137);
2. Cite and differentiate the types of catalysts (STEM_GC11CKIIIi-j-138).

What’s New
Activity 4.3.1. Find me! Locate the words associated with catalyst in the grid. The words can be
running in horizontal, vertical and diagonal directions.

1. _____________________
2. _____________________
3. _____________________
4. _____________________
5. _____________________
6. _____________________
7. _____________________
8. _____________________
9. _____________________
10. _____________________

What Is It
A catalyst is usually added to speed up the rate of reaction without being consumed in the
reaction. In other words, it only pushes forward the reaction but the catalyst amount or
concentration won’t change during the reaction. The presence of a catalyst increases the rate of
the reaction by lowering the activation energy, a larger fraction of effective collisions would occur
at a given temperature, resulting in product formation. Take note that although the catalyst lowers
the activation energy, it does not in any way alter the chemical reaction to yield another type of
reaction or product. Hence, the corresponding energies of both reactants and products stay the
same.
A catalyst can be classified as homogeneous or heterogeneous. A homogeneous catalyst
is present in the same phase as the reactants, whereas a heterogeneous catalyst is present in a
different phase. Generally, reactions occurring in the atmosphere, such as the decomposition of
ozone by nitric oxide, all occur in one phase.

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Heterogeneous Catalysis
In heterogeneous catalysis, the reactants and the catalyst are in different phases. Usually
the catalyst is a solid and the reactants are either gases or liquids. Heterogeneous catalysis is by
far the most important type of catalysis in industrial chemistry, especially in the synthesis of many
key chemicals such as polymerization, oil cracking and hydrogenation. These types of processes
involve reactions that readily occur on the surface of catalysts. Corrosion, adhesion and
detergency are some examples associated with surface reactions.
Heterogeneous catalysis proceeds according to the following steps:
1. Diffusion of the reactants on the surface.
2. Adsorption of the reactant onto the surface. Where, adsorption is a process in which a
substance is introduced on the surface of another substance.
3. Reaction taking place on the surface. The occurrence of the chemical reaction depends
on the adsorption process.
4. Desorption of products from the surface.
5. Diffusion of products into the solution.

Homogeneous Catalysis
In homogeneous catalysis the reactants and catalyst are dispersed in a single phase,
usually liquid. Acid and base catalysis are the most important types of homogeneous catalysis in
liquid solution. Homogeneous catalysis can also take place in the gas phase. A well-known
example of catalyzed gas-phase reactions is the lead chamber process, which for many years
was the primary method of manufacturing sulfuric acid. Homogeneous catalysis has several
advantages over heterogeneous catalysis. For one thing, the reactions can often be carried out
under atmospheric conditions, thus reducing production costs and minimizing the decomposition
of products at high temperatures. In addition, homogeneous catalysts can be designed to function
selectively for a particular type of reaction, and homogeneous catalysts cost less than the
precious metals (for example, platinum and gold) used in heterogeneous catalysis.

Enzymes Catalysis
The human body contains catalysts that allow essential biological reactions to take place in
it. These catalysts are called enzymes. Enzymes are proteins that catalyzed many biochemical
reactions. The action of enzymes is specific. The enzyme acts upon a molecule called the
substrate, which specifically binds on an active site to form the enzyme-substrate complex. While
the substrate is bound to the enzyme, it produces the product which, in turn, is released from the
enzyme. A typical enzyme reaction is shown below:
K1 K2
E+S ES E+P
K −1 K −2
Where E stands for enzyme, S represents the substrate, ES is the enzyme-substrate
complex and P is the product.
Some substances interfere with the action of a catalyst. These substances are called
inhibitor. An inhibitor combines with an enzyme and prevents the enzyme from triggering essential
biological reactions.

What’s More
Activity 4.3.2.
A. Complete me! Complete the table by giving the function and sources of the enzymes
mentioned.
ENZYMES FUNCTION SOURCES
1. Protease
2. Amylase
3. Lipase
4. Lactase
5. Maltase
6. Sucrase

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 B. Identify me! Choose from the words inside the box the best term that will complete each
sentence below.
Amylase Inhibitor
Concentration Lipase
Enzymes Surface Area

1. When the ______________ of reactants is increased, the rate of reaction speeds up

because more particles are engaged in the reaction.
2. Substances in the body that speed up biological reactions are called ______________.
3. The substance present in saliva that changes starch to simple sugar is ____________.
4. The smaller the particle size, the larger is the particle’s _____________.
5. When a substance prevents the enzyme from further reactions by combining with the
enzyme, the substance is a/an ______________.

What I Can Do
Activity 4.3.4. Experiment time! Prepare the materials needed and follow the procedure below.
Then, answer the questions given in your answer sheet.
Materials: small potato, calamansi juice, knife
Procedure:
1. Prepare two small slices of raw potato.
2. Dip one slice immediately into the calamansi juice.
3. Wait for 1-2 minutes and compare the two potato slices.
Questions:
1. Why do you have to wait for 1-2 minutes before you observe the potato slices?
2. Which slice of potato turns brown? Explain.
3. Which substance acts as the inhibitor? What is the importance of the inhibitor to
produce such a reaction?

Summary
Reaction Rate and Collision Theory
The table below summarizes the factors and effects of these factors on the reaction rate

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The Rate Law
The summary of the kinetics of zero, first and second-order reactions.
Concentration-time
Order Rate Law Half-life
Equation

0 Rate = k [A]t = -kt + [A]0

1 Rate = k [A] ln

2 Rate = k [A]2

Catalysis
 A catalyst speeds up a reaction usually by lowering the value of Ea. A catalyst can be
recovered unchanged at the end of a reaction.
 In heterogeneous catalysis, which is of great industrial importance, the catalyst is a solid
and the reactants are gases or liquids. In homogeneous catalysis, the catalyst and the
reactants are in the same phase. Enzymes are catalysts in living systems.

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