Rates of reaction Sodium Thiosulphate and Hydrochloric Acid

An experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of temperature on the rate of reaction
between sodium thiosulphate and hydrochloric acid. The equation for this reaction is shown below.

Method
(1) A measuring cylinder was used to measure 50cm
3
of 0.08M sodium thiosulphate solution
into a test tube. A bung was placed in the test tube.
(2) A pipette was used to measure 5cm
3
of 1.0M hydrochloric acid and this was placed into a
second test tube. A bung was placed in the test tube.
(3) Both test tubes were placed into a water bath thermostatically controlled to be at 40
0
C.
(4) An x was drawn onto a piece of paper and a 100cm
3
beaker was placed onto it.
(5) The sodium thiosulphate and hydrochloric acid in the test tubes were poured into the
beaker and the timer was started.
(6) The timer was stopped when the x was no longer visible when viewed from above.
(7) The experiment was repeated at 50, 60, 70 and 80
0
C.
Results
Experiment number Temperature (
0
C) Time for X to disappear
(s)
1/time
1 40 25
2 50 20
3 60 16
4 70 11
5 80 7

Analysis and Evaluation questions
(1) Complete the missing column on the results table.
(2) Draw a graph of temperature (x-axis) against 1/time (y-axis)
(3) The experiment carried out is an investigation into rate of reaction. How do we measure rate
of reaction? What units are used?

(4) When in the reaction is the rate of reaction fastest? What is this called? How is it defined?


(5) Which of the reactants or products are being used to measure the rate of this chemical
reaction?
(6) 1/time is approximately proportional to the initial rate of reaction. Explain why this is the
case.




(7) What assumptions are made to be able to state that 1/time is proportional to the initial rate
of reaction?


(8) Why do you think that 1/time is only approximately proportional to the initial rate of
reaction?


(9) Use your graph to draw a conclusion about the change of the rate of reaction with
temperature.


(10) The measuring cylinder used to measure the sodium thiosulphate is accurate to the nearest
1cm
3
. Calculate the percentage error for the volume of sodium thiosulphate. Give your
answer to 2sf.


(11) The pipette used to measure the hydrochloric acid is accurate to the nearest 0.1cm
3
.
Calculate the percentage error for the volume of hydrochloric acid. Give your answer to 2sf.



(12) The timer used in the experiment can measure times to the nearest 1/100
th
of a second.
Explain why it is not possible to give this level of accuracy on the measurement for time in
this experiment?


(13) It has been shown that the time taken for the x to disappear can be accurately measured to
the nearest 2s. Which experiment (1-5) has the biggest percentage error? Explain your
answer.



(14) Describe how you could carry out an experiment to determine the order of reaction for
both the sodium thiosulphate and the hydrochloric acid.








(15) Imagine that the results of your experiment show that the order of reaction for sodium
thiosulphate was 1. Sketch the graph of 1/time (y-axis) against concentration of sodium
thiosulphate (x-axis) if the experiments are carried out at 40
0
C. Label this line T
1
.










(16) Explain why the graph is a straight line. Explain why it is appropriate for the line to go
through the origin (0,0).



(17) On the same axis sketch the graph you would expect to see if the experiment were carried
out a 50
0
C. Label this line T
2
.