Chemistry Form Five: Chapter 1 - Rate of Reaction

Rate of reaction = change of quantity in reactant or product per unit time.

We usually use water displacement method to collect gas in school laboratory as shown
below:

The reaction is fastest at the start when the reactants are at a maximum
(steepest gradient)

The gradient becomes progressively less as reactants are used up and the
reaction slows down.

Finally the graph levels out when one of the reactants is used up and the
reaction stops.

The amount of product depends on the amount of reactants used.

The initial rate of reaction is obtained by measuring the gradient at the start
of the reaction. A tangent line is drawn to measure rate of reaction at instataneous time.

Chemistry Form 5: Chapter 1 - Collision Theory

According to the collision theory, particles of reactant that achieve activation energy and collide with
correct orientation will result in reaction.
1. Correct Orientation

Click on the diagram below to play!

2. Activation Energy

Activation energy is the minimum amount of energy that must be overcome by the colliding

particles so that the reaction can occur.

Chemistry Form 5: Chapter 1 - Effect of Concentration on Rate of

Reaction

Experiment to show the effect of concentration on reaction rate

Sodium thiosulphate solution react with dilute sulphuric acid to form a yellow
precipitate of sulphur. In this experiment, the time taken for the formation of
sulphur to cover the mark 'X' until it disappears from sight can be used to
measure rate of reaction.

As the concentration of sulphuric acid is increased, the rate of reaction between

sulphuric acid and sodium thiosulphate increases.
Explanation using collision theory

When the concentration of the solution of a reactant increases, the number of

particles per unit volume of the solution also increases.
With more particles per unit volume of the solution of the reactant, the
frequency of collision increases.
This causes the frequency of effective collision to increase. Hence, the rate of
reaction increases.

hemistry Form 5: Chapter 1 - Catalyst Affects the Rate of Reaction

Catalyst is a chemical substance that change the rate of chemical reaction.
Characteristics of catalyst:

Catalyst remains chemically unchanged during reaction. Its chemical composition

still the same before and after reaction.

Catalyst only change the rate of reaction.

Catalyst does not change the quantity of the product formed.

Catalyst is specific in its action.

Only a small amount of catalyst is needed to achieve a big increase in rate of

reaction.

How catalyst increase the rate of reaction:

When a positive catalyst is used in a chemical reaction, it enables the reaction to

occur through an alternative path which requires lower activation energy.

As a result, more colliding particles are able to overcome the lower activation
energy.

This causes the frequency of effective collision to increase.

Hence, the rate of reaction increases.

Decomposition of hydrogen peroxide by catalyst of manganese (IV) oxide