Nov 4 2017 5th form Rate of Chemical Reactions page 1 of 2

The term rate of a chemical reaction is the change in concentration of reactant or product per unit time at a
stated temperature.
rate = amount of product formed
time taken.

The units are usually mol dm-3 s-1, however the units can also be in terms of volume (cm3) or the time can be
in minutes or even hours, depending on how fast or slow the reaction takes place.

Conditions necessary for a reaction to occur

1. Particles must collide.
2. Particles must collide in the correct orientation
3. Particles must have a certain minimum amount of energy
called activation energy (Ea)

These three conditions can be collectively called SUCCESSFUL OR EFFECTIVE COLLISIONS.

Factors which influence the rate of a chemical reaction

1. Concentration (for solutions)
2. Pressure (gaseous systems only)
3. Temperature
4. Light
5. Surface area
6. Catalyst

1. Concentration
Concentration deals with the number of particles in a given area. The more particles in a given area, the greater
the frequency of effective collisions will take place and thus reaction rate increases.

2. Pressure
This works the same as concentration but it deals with gases. In other words the higher the pressure the greater
the frequency of effective collisions and the higher the reaction rate.

3. Temperature
This increases the mean kinetic energy of the particles, which causes more particles to have the minimum
energy required (activation energy) to undergo a chemical reaction which then increases the frequency of
effective collisions and therefore rate of reaction.

4. Light
This works in a similar way as temperature does, as light produces heat. However reactions which are activated
by light are called photochemical reactions. e.g. photosynthesis and decomposition of silver salts or hydrogen
peroxide or potassium manganate VII.

5. Surface area
The greater the surface area, the more particles are exposed for effective collisions and thus the reaction rate
increases. Imagine two beakers of acid. Drop a block of calcium carbonate in one and drop powdered chalk in
another. Which would exhibit a faster reaction? The second beaker would, because of the powdered form of the
chalk, more chalk particles are in contact with the acid. This means more effective collisions per unit time and
therefore a faster rate of reaction. Please note for a given mass of reactants, the smaller the size of the particles
the GREATER the surface area.
Nov 4 2017 5th form Rate of Chemical Reactions page 2 of 2

Please note, rate of 6. Catalyst

reaction can be A catalyst provides an alternative pathway for the
illustrated graphically reaction, one which has a lower activation energy.
Having a lower activation energy results in more
particles having the energy to start a reaction, therefore
the end result is a faster reaction. Think of activation
The STEEPER
energy as the slope
a tall hill (gradient)
to go over ofto aget
graph,
to thethe
other side. A
FASTER
When the gradient is zerothe rate
(that
catalyst is of reaction.
a horizontal
provides you withGraph
line) A reaction
the has aroute
a different steeper
has
using a
slope than
stopped which means that graph
the rateB,oftherefore
reaction graph
is alsoA has
zero.
SHORTER hill. It would be a lot easier to get a faster rateto the
How to explain the
general shape of a Please note you can determine the slope at any point of a curve by
graph of a chemical drawing a tangent to that point and visually examining the slope, as
reaction shown to the left. Gradient at point A is steeper than gradient at point B.

Generally graphs are of the type shown to the left. At the VERY
Generally a beginning (just AFTER the reaction has started) the rate of the reaction
concentration vs is at its HIGHEST value. This occurs because at this point, there is the
time graph looks as greatest concentration of reactants and since concentration is a factor
shown below to the which influences the rate of a reaction, the fastest rate would be at this
left and a rate vs point. At point A, the rate of the reaction begins to slow down as the
time graph is typically seen reactants begin to get used up, i.e. the concentration of the reactants
like the one below to the right. Pleasedecreases. At point D, the graph begin to level out and at this time, all
note that 1 / time can be classified as of the reactants have been used up, therefore the rate of reaction would
rate.

END
OF
RATES
OF

REACTION*****************************