RATES OF REACTION
CSEC CHEMISTRY
Rate of reaction
The study of the speed at which a chemical reaction occurs.
The rate of reaction is a measured change in the concentration
of a reactant or product with time at a stated temperature.
Rate of reaction = concentration of reactant/product
Time taken
Measuring rates of
reaction
Difficult to measure the changes in concentration however
the changes in other property makes it possible.
These include:
Volume of a gas using a syringe
Decrease in mass of the reaction if the gas escapes
Appearance of a precipitate
A change in colour intensity, pH, temperature or pressure
Collision theory for
reactions
Chemical reactions involve the breaking of original bonds in
the reactant and the formation of new bonds in the
products.
The collision theory states that in order to react, particles of
the reactants must collide, the collisions must occur with the
required activation energy and particles must be correctly
orientated.
An effective collision is one that results in the formation of
product.
Rate Curve and explanations of
shape
A rate curve shows a measured property plotted
against time
All rate curves have the same basic shape.
The rate of a reaction changes as the reaction
proceeds. It is fastest at the beginning and the rate
decreases with time until the reaction reaches
completion when the limiting reagent is used up.
Rate Curve
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Factors affecting rates of reaction
Four main factors that affect the rate of a chemical reaction
Concentration
Temperature
Surface area(particle size)
Presence or absence of a catalyst
Others:
Light
Pressure
Temperature
The higher the temperature, the higher the rate of reaction
If the temperature at which a reaction occurs is increased,
the reactant particles gain kinetic energy which results in
particles moving faster, colliding more frequently and with
more energy therefore increasing effective collision.
Temperature is however not directly proportional to rate of
the reaction.
Rate Curve for
Temperature
Concentration
The higher the concentration of a reactant, the higher the
rate of a reaction.
If the concentration of a reactant is increased, this means
that there are more reactant particles per unit volume which
results in more frequent and effective collision.
The rate of reaction is directly proportional to the
concentration.
Rate Curve for
Concentration
Surface Area (particle
size)
The smaller the particle size, the higher the rate of a
reaction.
This only applies to reactant in the solid state.
When solids react, the reaction occurs on the surface of the
solid.
Smaller solid have a greater surface area than the same
mass of larger solid particles.
Presence or absence of a catalyst
A catalyst is a substance which alters the rate of a chemical
reaction without itself undergoing any permanent chemical
change.
They work by providing an alternative pathway for the
reaction which requires less activation energy.
Most catalysts, if present, speed up the rate of a reaction.
E,g MnO2 in the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)
A negative catalyst, if present, slows down the rate of a
reaction. E.g tetraethyl lead (IV) ((C2H5)4Pb) used in the
conversion of gasoline in internal combustion engines.
The effect on changing
different factors on rate
curves
