REACTION RATE
This refers to how fast or slow a chemical reaction is. Reaction rates tell how fast reactants turn into
products.
Amount of products formed
i.e Rate ¿
Time
The Collision Theory
A THEORY is our best explanation of what we observe right now. FACTS have been seen and are
what science has proven to be correct. We need to understand how atoms behave. If we had magic
spectacles (glasses) and were able to see able to see atoms moving around we would notice the
following:
Reaction take place when particles collide
Not all collisions leads to a reaction
Those collisions that do lead to a reaction are called effective collisions.
To increase the rate of a reaction, the number of possible effective collision should be
increased. In other words the more often we can make atom collide the faster the reaction
will take place.
Measuring Reaction Rate
If we do an experiment to establish the speed (rate) of a chemical reaction under different
conditions we can measure how fast the reaction is proceeding in a number of different ways:
Measure how reactants disappear or products appear.
Colour change (colour cards or spectrometers)
Concentration of ions (conductivity)
Volume of gas produced
Mass change
Volume of solid formed
EXAMPLES
1. Monitoring rate of reaction where gases are produced
i) The volume of gas is measured per unit time.
e.g Mg(s) + HCL(aq) MgCl2(aq) + H2(g)
ii) Measuring mass per unit time
As the gas escapes there is loss of mass in the conical flask content.
iii) Measuring precipitate formed per unit time
In reaction where precipitates are formed, Reaction rate can be monitored by measuring the
amount of precipitate formed per unit time.
In this reaction a measured volume of sodium thiosulphate is put in a conical flask. This conical flask
is placed on paper marked with a cross. When you look through the solution the cross should be
visible. Then put a measured volume of dilute hydrochloric acid into above conical flask and start
stop watch immediately. As the reaction progresses sulphur (yellow in colour) is formed and the
cross disappears.
FACTORS AFFECTING REACTION RATES
Reaction depends on collisions that are forceful and properly oriented, so reaction rates are affected
by things that increase the frequency, strength or efficiency of the collisions.
1. Concentration of reactants
2. Temperature at which the reaction is carried out
3. Surface area
4. Pressure (gaseous reactants)
5. Catalysts
CONCENTRATION (Solution and gases)
The higher the concentration the higher the rate of a reaction and vice versa. The more particles
squashed in per dm3 the more likely they are to collide, thereby increasing the rate of a reaction.
TEMPERATURE
The higher the temperature the higher the rate of reaction and the lower the temperature the lower
the rate of reaction. This is because when temperature is increased particles gain kinetic energy and
move faster, increasing chances of effective collision therefore increasing the rate of reaction.
PRESSURE (only in gases)
An increase in pressure increases rate of reaction and vice versa. This means the more particles are
pushed together the more likely they are to collide hence increasing the rate of reaction.
SURFACE AREA (Solid reactant)
The larger the surface area, the higher the rate of reaction and the smaller the surface area the
lower the rate of reaction. When surface area is large, it means that more particles are open to be
reacted with, hence more chances of effective collision between particles, thereby increasing the
rate of reaction.
CATALYST
It is a substance that speeds up the rate of chemical reaction without being changed by the reaction.
Thus a catalyst is neither a reactant nor a product.
A catalyst works by lowering the activation energy required to start a reaction. Activation energy is
the amount of energy required to start a reaction. The lower the activation energy the faster the
rate of reaction.
EXAMPLES OF CATALYSTS
CATALYST PROCESS
Fine Iron Manufacture of ammonia(Haber
process)
nickel Manufacture of margarine
Manganese (iv) Oxide Decomposition of hydrogen peroxide
Vanadium (v) oxide Manufacture of sulphuric acid(contact
process)
COMPARISON BETWEEN AN ENZYME AND CATALYST
CATALYST ENZYME
They are specific to a reaction They are specific to a substrate
Work under wide range of temperature Work under narrow temperature
Work under wide pH Work under narrow pH
Made up of inorganic material Made up of protein molecule
EXAMPLES OF ENZYMES
Enzymes are useful in process such as;
Brewing
Baking
Dairy
FERMENTATION – glucose is decomposed to ethanol and carbondioxide. Ethanol is used in brewing
industry and carbondioxide is used in baking industry causing dough to rise.
FOOD PRESERVATION – enzymes activity is reduced or halted completely to prevent food from going
bad.
EXPLOSIVE COMBUSTION – this usually involves two factors; surface area and temperature e,g coal
dust can burn explosively causing accidents in mines since dust has large surface area.
