Rates of Reaction Investigation

Rates of Reaction Investigation

Reactions happen when the reactant particles collide and turn into a

product. Sodium and chlorine, when reacted, they give us a compound

Sodium Chloride (salt).

Chemical reactions can be very difficult to undo. When metal rust this

is a slow reaction, however burning, this is very quick. A speed on

which the reaction takes place is called and rate of reaction. There

are many ways on which to speed up the reaction. The most common is to

speed up the collision between the particles. The more collisions per

second the faster the reaction will be.

To speed up chemical reactions;

INCREASE THE TEMPRETURE

Reactant particles hit each other harder because they have more energy

in them. Also the temperature increase makes the particles grow more

so the frequency of collisions increases.

[IMAGE]

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Fewer particles energised so fewer collisions

More particles energised so there are more collisions.

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INCREASE THE CONCENTRATION

This only works with a solution, increasing the solution makes the

particles closer together, so the collision frequency increase.

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There are more particles which are closer therefore a quicker

reaction.

The particles are further apart, there is less reaction taken place.

INCREASE SURFACE AREA

If one of the reactants is a solid, you can break it down to smaller

pieces. This will increase surface area giving a better reaction to

occur.

[IMAGE] [IMAGE]

Here are the two same panels but one is broken down. The broke down

one has got a surface area of 16 whilst the other has a surface area

of 8.

USING A CATALYST

Catalyst speeds up reactions; they are only needed in small amounts.

Catalyst does not be used up in the reaction so they are able to be

re-used.

MY INVESTIGATION

I am investigating the reaction time between hydrochloric acid and a

piece of magnesium.

IDEA.

The idea is to add hydrochloric acid in to beaker, which contains a