GCSE Science | Rate of Reaction

How does rate of reaction change during an experiment?

  • Rate of reaction will start of faster, and slow down over time

Measuring rate of reaction

  • average rate of reaction = total volume or mass produced/ time taken
  • or
  • average rate of reaction = total volume or mass reacted/ time taken
  • exact rate of reaction at a given time = gradient of the curve

Units for rate of reaction

  • cm3/s or g/s

Factors affecting rate of reaction

  • higher temperature
  • higher concentration of reactants
  • higher pressure of gases
  • larger surface area
  • catalyst

Collision theory

  • when there is an increase in
  • temperature/ pressure/ concentration/ surface area
  • rate of reaction will increase - because -
  • this change would cause an increase in the
  • frequency of collisions - so there is a
  • greater chance of a successful collision

Catalyst

  • a catalyst increases rate of reaction
  • without getting used up
  • by providing an alternative pathway
  • with a lower activation energy

Activation energy

  • minimum energy needed to
  • start a reaction