Experiment 1

Factors Affecting Reaction

Rates
Chiu, Ina Cathrina R.
Salindo, Elysse S.
 Introduction
 Chemical Kinetics
− Deals with rates of reactions
(how fast a reaction
progresses)
− Rate is a measure of quantity
(formed/consumed) per unit of
time
 Introduction
 Collision Theory
− For a reaction to proceed, successful
collision must happen!
− Collision frequency is directly
proportional to reaction rate
− Activation energy is inversely
proportional to reaction rate
 Transition State Theory
– For a reaction to occur, it must reach
a transition state (with enough
energy) before proceeding on to the
products.
 Introduction
 Factors Affecting Reaction Rates
− Nature of Reactants
− Concentration of Reactants
− Temperature
− Surface Area
− Catalyst
RESULTS AND
DISCUSSION
Part A. Nature of Reactants
Reactant Observation

Mg Bubbles (slower reaction)

Na Explosion (faster
reaction)
Part A. Nature of Reactants
Activation Energy (Ea)
—the minimum amount of energy
required in order for a
reaction to proceed
—Inversely proportional to the
rate of reaction
Part A. Nature of Reactants
↓Ea = ↑reactivity = ↑reaction rate

Na has a
relatively
lower
activation
energy than
Mg.
Part B. Concentration of Reactants
 Table 2: Effect of [Na2S2O3] on rate with constant [HCl]

[Na2S2O3] [HCl] ln [Na2S2O3] Time Rate Ln Rate

(s) (1/time)

0.125 0.5 -2.079 15 0.067 -2.703

0.100 0.5 -2.303 19 0.053 -2.937
0.075 0.5 -2.590 27 0.037 -3.297
0.050 0.5 -2.996 64 0.016 -4.135
0.025 0.5 -3.689 142 7.04 E-3 -4.956
Part B. Concentration of Reactants
 Plot ln rate vs ln [Na2S2O3]
ln [Na2S2O3]

ln rate
Part B. Concentration of Reactants
 Table 3: Effect of [HCl] on rate with constant [Na2S2O3]

[Na2S2O3] [HCl] ln [HCl] Time Rate ln Rate

(1/time)

0.1 1.0 0.000 15 0.067 -2.703

0.1 0.8 -0.233 22 0.043 -3.147
0.1 0.6 -0.511 26 0.038 -3.270
0.1 0.4 -0.916 34 0.029 -3.540
0.1 0.2 -1.609 41 0.024 -3.730
Part B. Concentration of Reactants
 Plot ln rate vs ln [HCl]
ln [HCl]

ln rate
Part B. Concentration of Reactants
 Solving for the order with respect to
Na2S2O3:
x y
 ln (rate = k[Na2S2O3] [HCl] )
 lnRate = x ln [Na S O ] + y ln [HCl] + ln K
2 2 3

 y = m x + b
2
 r = 0.99
 m = order with respect to [Na S O ] = 1.458
2 2 3

 b = y ln [HCl] + ln K = 0.373
Part B. Concentration of Reactants
 Solving for the order with respect to HCl:
x y
 ln (rate = k[Na2S2O3] [HCl] )
 lnRate = y ln[HCl] + x ln[Na2S2O3] + ln k
 y = m x + b
2
 r = 0.86
 m = order with respect to [HCl] = 0.579

 b = x ln[Na S O ] + ln k = -2.901
2 2 3
Part B. Concentration of Reactants
 Actual vs. Theoretical Order
Actual Theoretica
Order wrt 1.458 l2
Na2S2O3
Order wrt 0.579 0
HCl
Overall 2.037 2
order
Part B. Concentration of Reactants
 Rate = k [Na2S2O3]1458
. [HCl]0579
.

 Solving for specific rate constant, k

(differential method):
b = y ln [HCl] + ln K
0.373 = (0.579) ln (0.5) + ln k

k = 2.169 M-1 s-1

b = x ln[Na2S2O3] + ln k
-2.901 = (1.458) ln (0.1) + ln k

k = 1.578 M-1 s-1

Part B. Concentration of Reactants
 As [Na2S2O3 ] increases, the rate of
reaction also increases
 As [HCl] increases, rate increases. BUT!
Theoretically, it shouldn’t.
 GENERALLY, ↑ concentration = ↑
collision frequency = ↑ reaction rate
Part C. Temperature
Temp (o 1/T (K) Time Rate k ln k
C) (s) (1/time)

17 3.45E-03 85 0.012 1.49 0.399

27 3.34E-03 54 0.019 2.36 0.859

37 3.23E-03 27 0.037 4.59 1.524

 Part C. Temperature
Arrhenius Plot
In k

1 /T
Part C. Temperature

-Ea 1+ ln A
ln k = R T
y = mx + b

Ea = -R(slope)
*find slope using linear
regression
Slope = -5054.287569
Ea = -8.314 J (-5054.287569)
Ea = 42,021.35 J
 Part C. Temperature
↑temperature = ↑rate of reaction

Increasing
Fraction of molecules

temperature
T2 > T1 increases the
fraction of
molecules that
posses enough
kinetic energy to
overcome Ea, thus
increasing reaction
rate.
Part D. Surface Area
Reactants Visible Results

Strip of Mg Bubbles (slower

reaction)

Pieces of Mg Bubbles (faster

reaction)
Part D. Surface Area
↑surface area = ↑rate of reaction

—A greater surface
area exposed
increases the
probability of
effective
collisions
between reactant
molecules and
results to an
increase in
reaction rate.
Part E. Catalyst
- a substance that speeds up reaction by
providing an alternative pathway with lower
activation energy for the reactant molecules,
but is not consumed in the reaction
Reactants Visible Results

H2O2 + Rochelle Salt Slow bubble formation

H2O2 + Rochelle Salt Faster bubble

+ CoCl2 formation; color
change (pink → green
→ pink)
Color Change: CoCl2 in aqueous
solution is pink
pink because of [CoCl2
(H2O)4]●2H2O or
cobaltous chloride
hexahydrate

formed an
green intermediate
activated complex of
Co3+ (green) and
tartrate ions

pink converted back to

its original form,
CoCl2
Conclusion

—5 main factors that can affect the rate of

reaction – nature of reactants,
concentration of reactants, temperature,
surface area and presence of a catalyst.
—For a reaction to proceed, molecules must
acquire enough energy to overcome the
activation energy.
—Generally, increasing the frequency of
collisions and decreasing the activation
energy would hasten a reaction.
Conclusion

—Concentration of reactants, temperature and

surface area are directly proportional to
reaction rate. An increase in these factors
would increase reaction rate.
—Adding a catalyst and using reactants with
lower activation energy would also hasten
the reaction rate.

Recommendations
—Use a stopwatch instead of a clock or
watch because of its greater accuracy.
—It is also recommended that this
experiment should not be performed
spontaneously and without proper
preparation (glassware, reagents,
personal protective equipment, etc).
—
 References:
 Clark, J. (March 2011). Rates of Reaction Menu. Retrieved
April 30, 2011, from
 http://www.chemguide.co.uk/physical/basicratesmenu.html#top
 The Royal Society of Chemistry. Classic Chemistry
Demonstration:A Visible Activated Complex. Retrieved May
1, 2011, from
 www.rsc.org/images/oscillating_tcm18-188828.pdf
 Purchon, N.D. (Novermber 10, 2006). Rates of Reaction.
Retrieved April 30, 2011, from
 http://www.purchon.com/chemistry/rates.htm
 Engle, Harry and Luciana Ilao, Learning Modules in General
Chemistry 2 (2007 Edition),
