Speed /Rate of Reaction

Chemical Kinetics

Graphing
Factors
Collision
Stoichiometry
Theory

• How to draw
graphs to show • Reaction rate follows 1. Concentration
rate of reaction mole ratio shown in • Explains why a 2. Pressure
• Interpret graphs: balanced chemical chemical reaction 3. Temperature
➢ Steepness of equations. occurs. 4. Surface area of solid
gradient • Affected by limiting • Explains how factors reactants
• Linear or curve reagent. affect speed of reaction. 5. Presence of catalysts
 Measuring Speed /Rate of Reaction
To measure the
CHANGE in
In a chemical reaction, reactants are converted to products: reactants /
products during
the reaction over
time.

Change in reactants over time: Change in products over time:

→ E.g. measure the decrease in mass of
reactant, marble chip.
OR → E.g. measure the increase in volume of
product, CO2.

marble chip

2HCl(aq) + CaCO3(aq) → CaCl2(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g) 2HCl(aq) + CaCO3(aq) → CaCl2(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)
 Measuring Speed /Rate of Reaction

In a chemical reaction, other properties of reactants and

products can change. E.g.
Methods for Measuring Speed /Rate of Reaction
 Plotting a graph to show Speed /Rate of Reaction
Since product of
this reaction is a
This set-up gas, we can
is NOT ideal measure the
to measure change in
the change volume of CO2
in vol. over over time.
short time
interval.

This set-up
is MORE
ideal: Use of
pressure
sensor.
 Interpretations of graphs
The changing slope of
The steepness of the
the curve tells us that the
slope or gradient tells us
rate of reaction is also
the rate of reaction.
constantly changing.

The steeper the slope →

the faster the reaction.
 Interpretations of graphs

Explaining the shape of the graph:

1. In the beginning, there is a lot of Mg & HCl reacting to

form H2 gas → speed of reaction is fast (gradient is steep). Describing the shape of the graph:

2. As the reaction proceeds the reactants are used up → 1. In the beginning, the graph has a steep gradient.
speed of reaction is slowing down (gradient is less steep)
2. As the reaction proceeds, the gradient is less steep.
3. When the limiting reagent (Mg /HCl) is used up, the
reaction stops → gradient = 0 3. The graph becomes horizontal with gradient = 0
 Collision Theory

Activation
energy is the
minimum
amount of The number of
energy which effective collisions
the reactants per unit time.
must possess
for reaction to
occur

Speed /rate of reaction is determined by the frequency of effective collisions.

 Factors Affecting Speed of reaction
You have to explain the effects of these factors using
Collision Theory

Presence of small Increase pressure of gaseous reactants

amounts of catalyst, → Increase speed of reaction
→ Increase speed of
reaction

Increase temperature
of reaction mixture
→ Increase speed of
reaction

Increase concentration Increase surface area

of reactant solution of reactants
→ Increase speed of → Increase speed of
reaction reaction
 Using Collision Theory to Explain…..
(using the Micro world of particles to explain the Macro observations)

Increase in number of particles per unit volume Increase in pressure → decrease in vol.→ particles are closer
→ Increase in number of particles colliding → Increase in number of particles colliding
→ Increase in frequency of effective collision. → Increase in frequency of effective collision.

Decrease in particle size

(increase in surface area)

Increase in kinetic energy of the particles

Greater surface area for particles to collide
→ Particles move faster, more particles are colliding
→ Increase in number of particles colliding
→ More particles are with energy equal / > activation energy
→ Increase in frequency of effective collision.
→ Increase in frequency of effective collision.
 Speed /Rate of Reaction & Stoichiometry

Excess 1.00 mol/dm3 hydrochloric acid was Volume

added to 1.00 g of powdered calcium of CO2 /cm3
carbonate. The volumes of carbon dioxide 240
produced at various times were recorded and
plotted as shown.
Max quantity of the
product formed is
The maximum volume of CO2 gas can be
affected by the no. of
calculated via stoichiometry.
mols of limiting reagent
Since hydrochloric acid is in excess,
calcium carbonate is the limiting reagent
→ the amount of calcium carbonate will affect
the max. volume of CO2 gas produced. Time /s

2HCl(aq) + CaCO3(aq) → CaCl2(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g) No. of mols of CO2 = 0.01 mols

Mole ratio: 1 CaCO3 : 1 CO2 Max. vol. of CO2 = 0.01 x 24 = 0.24 dm3
= 240 cm3
No. of mols of CaCO3 = 1.00 / 100 (Mr of CaCO3 = 100)
= 0.01 mols
Experiments investigating the Factors Affecting Speed of reaction
(A) Effect of concentration
Set-up 1:
• 1g of Zn powder (excess)
• 50 cm3 of 0.10 mol/dm3 HCl
different
conc of
Set-up 2:
HCl
• 1g of Zn powder (excess) 1 g of powdered Zn
• 100 cm3 of 0.05 mol/dm3 HCl
Zn(s) + 2HCl(aq) → ZnCl2(aq) + H2(g)

The maximum volume of H2 is affected by

2
Why the limiting reagent, which is HCl (Zn is in excess)
→ Vol. of H2 gas depends on no. of mols of HCl.
→ Mole ratio (from equation) 2HCl : H2
2
No. of mols of HCl in Set up 1 = 0.10 x 50/1000
Formula:
= 0.05 mols
Mols = Conc x vol
No. of mols of HCl in Set up 2 = 0.05 x 100/1000
= 0.05 mols

→ HCl in both set ups have the same no. of mols,

→ Thus produce same volume of H2 gas.
Speed /Rate of Reaction & Stoichiometry

Maximum amount (mols) of product

obtained → affected by the limiting
reagent in the reaction.
Experiments investigating the Factors Affecting Speed of reaction
(A) Effect of concentration

B
1 g of powdered Zn

Zn(s) + 2HCl(aq) → ZnCl2(aq) + H2(g)

Question:
Set-up 1:
• 1g of Zn powder (excess) Which set-up 1 & 2 is matched to curve A & B respectively?
• 50 cm3 of 0.10 mol/dm3 HCl
1 2
Set-up 2:
• 1g of Zn powder (excess)
• 30 cm3 of 0.20 mol/dm3 HCl
Experiments investigating the Factors Affecting Speed of reaction
(A) Effect of concentration
Question:

Assume that Zn is in excess.

What can you say about the
• concentration of HCl &
• no. of moles of HCl
1 in Set-up 1 & 2 respectively?

Set-up 1: (i) Lower concentration of HCl

2 (gradient is less steep)
(ii) Greater no. of mols of HCl
(greater max. vol. of gas)

Set-up 2: (i) Greater concentration of HCl

(gradient is more steep)
(ii) Smaller no. of mols of HCl
(smaller max. vol. of gas)

*Gradient of curve shows the effect of the factor e.g. concentration

Maximum quantity shows the no. of mols of limiting reactant.
 Speed /Rate of Reaction & Stoichiometry
(Calculating Limiting Reagent)
Experiment 1 is carried out using 0.600 g of magnesium and 20.0 cm3 of 1.00 mol/dm3 of dilute
hydrochloric acid to produce hydrogen gas.

a) Calculate which reactant in the above reaction is the limiting reagent.

b) Hence calculate the maximum volume of hydrogen produced at the end of the reaction.
c) If experiment 2 is carried out using the same mass of magnesium but with 20.0 cm3 of 2.00
mol/dm3 of dilute hydrochloric acid.
Sketch a graph of volume of hydrogen /cm3 against time /s for experiment 1 & 2 indicating the
maximum volume of gas produced on the graph.
 Speed /Rate of Reaction & Stoichiometry
(Calculating Limiting Reagent)
*Limiting reagent → No. of mols of reactant given < no. of mols of reactant needed in reaction.
→ No. of mols of reactant needed > no. of mols of reactant given in a reaction.

Mg + 2HCl → MgCl2 + H2
a) No. of mols of Mg (given) = 0.600 / 24 = 0.025 mols b) Mole ratio: 2 HCl : 1 H2

No. of mols of HCl (given) = 20.0/1000 x 1.00 No. of mols of H2 = 0.02 / 2 = 0.01 mols
= 0.020 mols Vol. of H2 = 0.01 x 24 = 0.24 dm3 = 240 cm3

Mole ratio: 1 Mg : 2 HCl c) No. of mols of HCl (given) = 20.00/1000 x 2.00 = 0.04 mols
Vol. of H2 = (0.04/2) x 24 = 0.48 dm3 = 480 cm3
No. of mols of HCl (needed) = 0.025 x 2 = 0.0500 mols → Higher conc, greater no. of mols,
& greater vol. of H2 produced
Since no. of mols of HCl needed to react with 0.600 g
of Mg (0.0500 mols) is more than the no. of mols of
HCl given in the reaction (0.020 mols), then HCl is the
limiting reagent.
 Effect of Catalysts /Enzymes on Speed of reaction

A catalyst is a substance when added to the An enzyme is a biological catalysts that catalyse
reaction mixture, increases the speed of a the chemical reactions in plants and animals.
chemical reaction but it remains chemically
unchanged at the end of the reaction. Characteristics of enzymes:

Characteristics of catalysts:

● Usually in small quantities

● Selective in its action (1 catalyst only catalyses
1 reaction)
● Not used up in the reaction (remains
unchanged)
○ Not included in the chemical equation
● E.g. iron, platinum, aluminium oxide, copper(II)
sulfate
Catalysts vs Enzymes
 Effect of Catalysts on Speed of reaction
Catalysts:

● Increases the speed of reaction but NOT the yield of the reaction.
● Provides an alternative pathway with a lower activation energy for the reaction to occur.

Using Collision Theory to explain:

● It provides an alternative pathway with a

lower activation energy for the reaction to
occur.
● More particles can collide with energy
equal or greater than the activation
energy
● The frequency of effective collisions
increases.
● Thus speed of reaction increases.
Experiments investigating the Factors Affecting Speed of reaction
(B) Effect of catalyst (C) Effect of surface area
Set-up 1: Set-up 1:
• 1g of Zn powder (excess) • 1g of Zn powder (excess)
• 25 cm3 of 0.10 mol/dm3 HCl • 25 cm3 of 0.10 mol/dm3 HCl
• 1 cm3 of catalyst
(usually in small amounts only) Set-up 2:
• 1g of Zn granules (excess)
Set-up 2: • 25 cm3 of 0.10 mol/dm3 HCl
• 1g of Zn powder (excess)
• 25 cm3 of 0.10 mol/dm3 HCl
Hydrogen ions can collide with
• No catalyst the outer layer of Zn atoms.

Hydrogen ions cannot

collide with the atoms
at the centre.

Zinc granule (large piece)

Smaller bit of Zn
provides a larger
surface area for
hydrogen ions to
collide with.

Zinc powder
Experiments investigating the Factors Affecting Speed of reaction
(D) Effect of temperature Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution curve
 Reaction Kinetics [Optional]

Consider the reaction A + B → C

During the investigation of the effect of concentration of reactant A,

• If concentration of A, [A] is doubled → there is no change in rate,

then the rate of reaction has a reaction order = 0

• If concentration of A, [A] is doubled → rate is doubled

then the rate of reaction has a reaction order = 1 (First order reaction)

https://www.chemguide.co.uk/physical/basicrates/orders.html