Lab 3 / Reaction Order and Rate Laws

Purpose / Introduction
This lab will provide a physically-observable demonstration of how concentrations will
or will not affect reaction rates. The calculated reaction rates will then contribute to the
determination of order for each reactant and the reaction's rate law.
I expect the reactions between the reactants will produce a precipitate that will cloud the
mixtures' visibilities. I also expect the time for the reaction rate will increase as the solution's
dilution increases.
Materials and Methods
Part I
Data tables are set up to record the times obtained while observing the mixtures' physical
changes. Initial and final concentrations of the varied compound are calculated.
Part II
This part of the lab keeps the concentration of

Na 2 S2 O3

constant while the

HCl

concentration is varied. The 24-well plate is placed on a sheet of white paper. Three as-close-toidentical black X signs are drawn below three of the wells. The well plate is then moved down
to cover the X signs but remain visible under each well. Below this, each well is labeled 1, 2,
and 3. Distilled water is added to wells 2 and 3. Next, a varying quantity of HCl is added to
each of the three wells. At the top of the three well columns
empty pipet, suck up all the
reaction that occurs when the

Na 2 S2 O3
Na 2 S2 O3

Na 2 S2 O3

is added. Using an

from the first well. Using a stopwatch, time the

is added to the first X well; keep the time running

until the X sign is no longer visible. In the data table, record the length of time it takes for this
result. Repeat this for wells 2 and 3. Once completed, the well plate should be washed with
liquid soap and thoroughly cleaned. Repeat this part a second time to obtain a second set of data.
Part III
The third part of the lab mirrors that of the second part; however, the constant
Na 2 S2 O3
concentration is HCl and the varied concentration is
. The 24-well plate is once
again placed on a sheet of white paper, and three black X signs are drawn below three wells. The
well plate is moved to cover the X signs as before, and well is labeled 1, 2, and 3. Distilled
Na 2 S2 O3
water is added to wells 2 and 3. This time varied quantities of
is added to the three
wells. HCl is added to the three top-column wells. Using a clean and empty pipet, all the
HCl is sucked up from the first well. The reactions between the nondiluted and diluted
Na 2 S2 O3
and HCl is timed using a stopwatch; time is stopped when the X sign is no
longer visible. Time is then recorded in the data table. Wells 2 and 3 will follow the same steps.

Once completed, a second set of data is obtained after the well plate is thoroughly washed with
liquid soap. Clean up the lab and surrounding area once all data has been obtained.
Part IV
Using the data obtained, calculations can be made to determine the rate laws.
Safety
For this experiment goggles should be worn. Anything that comes in contact with the
chemicals should be washed with liquid soap.