Anglican High School

Sec 4 Chemistry/Science.Created by Tan Siok HiangConfidential Page 1

Topic :Speed of reaction.(J.G.Briggs)

21.1.
Definition of the speed of reaction.
It refers to rate of reaction..This can be obtained by
a.Measuring the amount of reactants which disappear in a unit time.
b.Measuring the amount of products which are formed in a unit time.
c.Measuring the times for a reaction to complete.

21.2
Ways of measuring reaction rates.
1. Measuring a change in mass during the reaction
2. Measuring the volume of a gaseous product.
3. Measuring the time for a colour to appear or disappear
4. Measuring the changes in pH.
5. Measuring the changes in temperature.
6. Measuring the time for a precipitate to form.

The values obtained are then plotted on a graph .

X-axis :Time taken
Y axis : Volume of the product or the mass of the reactant.

Analysis of reaction curve.

1. Study the graphs carefully below and take note of the y axis.In all cases the graph
has decreasing gradient.This means that
a. the rate of reaction is greatest at the beginning but will always decreases
with time(concentration factor) and stops as there are no more reactants.

b. The rate is not the same throughout.

c. The steeper the curve at that point ,the faster the rate.

d. We can determine the amount of reactants used from the volume of the
product which was produced.
Example.

1
Anglican High School
Sec 4 Chemistry/Science.Created by Tan Siok HiangConfidential Page 2

Calcium carbonate reacts with dilute hydrochloricacid.The volume of carbon

dioxide can be read from the graph below.

Example.
24dm3

24dm3 of carbon dioxide contains 1 mole.From the equation below

CaCO3 + 2HCL------CaCL2 +H2O + CO2

So 1 mole of carbondioxide is produced from 2mole of acid and 1 mole of CaC03.So

we can determine the mass of calcium carbonate and hydrochloric acid.Calculate the

concentration of acid used if 25cm3 of acid was used.

Ans.

1. No of moles of acid =2mole

Vol of acid =25/1000dm3

Molarity of acid=Mole/Vol=2/(0.025)=____Mole/dm3

2.Mass of calcium carbonate=Mole*Molar mass=1x100=100g.

From the graph,

The difference in initial mass and final mass will
give the mass of gaseous product which is
formed.
The mass of the gaseous product will enable us
to determine the mass of reactants because we
can convert the mass of product into mole and
use the mole ratio to determine the mole and
therefore the mass of reactants. 2
Anglican High School
Sec 4 Chemistry/Science.Created by Tan Siok HiangConfidential Page 3

Theory of rate of reaction.

1.Collision theory.

a. It states that particles move and collide with each other.

b.Some collisons would produce a reaction which we classify as “successful

collisions”.

c.Some collisions would not produce reactions which we call “unsuccessful

collisions”.

d. For every reaction there is an energy requirement which we called “activation

energy”.(Treat this as entrance requirement for entrance into college)

e. Reactions which occur easily has low activation energy .hence most collisions

would be successful.(Sodium reacts with water)

f. Reactions which do not occur easily have high activation energy.,hence collisions

would not be successful.(Iron reacts with water).

g.We can use the above concept to explain the factors which influence the rate of

reaction

3
Anglican High School
Sec 4 Chemistry/Science.Created by Tan Siok HiangConfidential Page 4

Factors How it affect Reason Graphical

representation.
1.Temperatur High temp=>faster High temp means more kinetic energy

e low temp=>slower and move faster,so more chances of

collisions hence greater chances of

achieving successful collisions

2.there is an increase in the number of

particles having the activation energy.

3.the total number of collisions per

unit volume increase

2.Concentrati High High concentrations mean greater

on concentration=>faster number of particles per unit volume so

Low high chances of collisions

concentration=>slower
3.Catalyst Presence of Certain catalyst will lower the orginal

catalyst=>faster activation energy of the specific

Absence=>slower reaction hence more particles will

collide successfully.
4.Pressure Only affect gas, High pressure means more particles

per unit volume,hence greater

collisions per unit volume=> faster

rate.
5.Surface Only affect solid. Powdered means there is greater

area. Powdered (greater suface area of contact hence higher

surface area)means faster chances of collisions and no of

rate. partices per unit volume for reaction

4
 Anglican High School
Sec 4 Chemistry/Science.Created by Tan Siok HiangConfidential Page 5

increase,so chances of collision are

greater and chances of success will be

higher.

(a) (b)
temp High temp Low temp
catalyst yes No
Surface area powdered Big pieces
pressure High low
Concentration High low

(no of moles of reactants

used the same)

Catalyst.
Concentration of a solution is measured by Molarity.The greater the concentration
1.Definition : A catalyst is a substance which increases the rate of a chemical reaction without
itself being chemically changed at the end of the reaction.(To check this is so,weigh the
,the faster the reaction,hence the steeper the graph..The amount of products is affected
catalyst before and after the reaction.There is no change.in mass )
2.Biological catalyst are called enzymes.Yeast is an example.
by the no.of moles.(No of moles=MxV) We must assume that acid is the limiting
3.Examples of industrial catalyst:
Iron: Haber process to make ammonia
reagents.Since the number of mole of acid control the volume of gas evolved
Vanadium (V) oxide used to make sulphuric acid in Contact process.
Concentrated sulphuric acid to make ester.
Graphical representation when different no of moles of reactants were used
Nickel is used to make margarine from vegetable oils.
4. Characteristics.
2M1dm3
a. they are specific.
b. Only a small amount is required 1M2dm3
c. Many catalyst are tansition metals or its compounds.
Experiments often amount
d. Small used to investigate
of the rate of reaction
3 impurities may “poison” catalyst. (Car exhaust has platinum to
1.Reaction between 1M1dm
catalysecalcium carbonate
the conversion ofand diluteoxide
nitrogen hydrochloric
and carbonacid.
monoxide to harmless nitrogen
2.Reaction ofand
magnesium and dilute sulphuric acid.
carbon dioxide. 2CO +2 NO------ N2 +2 CO2
3. Decomposition
Howeverof hydrogen
this catalyticperoxide.using manganese
reaction will be ineffective(IV) oxide
if lead as catalyst.
is present. Lead 5
will “poison”
3
2M 0.5dm
4. Reaction between dilute sulphuric acid
the catalyst and make it ineffectiveand sodium thiosulphate.(we observe the
formation of sulphur as a yellow solid