CHEMICAL KINETICS

ABSTRACT
Rates of chemical reactions are measured through chemical kinetics. Reactions proceed at
different rates depending on the nature of its reactants, the concentration of the substances, the
temperature of the substances, and the presence of catalysts. This study aims to cast light on the
application of chemical kinetics: to determine the rate law of a reaction using initial rates method, to
apply the Arrhenius equation in determining the activation energy (Ea) of a reaction, to examine a
catalyzed reaction and identify the role of the catalyst, and to illustrate the effect of varying
temperatures and concentrations on the reaction rate. In the experiment, six (6) set-ups were used for
testing the rate of reaction between hydrochloric acid (HCl) and sodium thiosulfate (Na2S2O3) on a
medium (H2O(l)). The factors concentration, temperature, and catalyst that affect the speed of
reaction are observed and analyzed to see how effectively each factor affects the results of the
reactions. Data gathered from the experiment showed that the rates of reactions increased or sped up
when there is larger concentration, increase in temperature, and presence of a catalyst. Knowing these
would help us predict the behavior of the chemical reaction and its efficiency.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Part 1: Effect of Concentration on the Rate of
Reaction
A number of runs was conducted at
room temperature (32C). The reactions
contained different volume combinations of
Na2S2O3, HCl, and H2O having the equation:
S2O32-(aq) + 2H+(aq) SO2(g) + S(s) + H2O(l)

Table
1.
Experimental
(Concentration)

(1)

Results

Run
No.

Time(s)

1/Time (s-1)

[S2O32-]initial

[H+]initial

1
2
3
4
5
6

15
41
131
21
26
32

0.067
0.024
7.63x10-3
0.048
0.038
0.031

0.1 M
0.05 M
0.025 M
0.1 M
0.1 M
0.1 M

0.4 M
0.4 M
0.4 M
0.6 M
0.4 M
0.2 M

Initial concentrations were computed

by multiplying the concentration of the
substance to its volume. Since the
temperature and the total volume used for
the runs were constant, the only remaining
factor that varied was the time. With that,
initial rate can be derived as the inverse of
time. Using the data in Table 1.1, the order of
the reaction with respect to S2O32-, 1.48, and
the order of the reaction with respect to H+,
0.29, were
obtained, giving an overall kinetic order of
1.77.
Of the species involved in the
reaction, sulfur from S2O32- was the one

responsible for the visible change that

showed the occurrence of the reaction. The
white precipitate, S(s), formed indicated the
reaction which made it possible to obtain the
data above. A possible source of error in this
part was that the timing of the reaction was
inconsistent. Another one would be the
beakers used have different surface area or
diameter. Having a larger beaker than the
first one used would result to a slower
reaction.
Part 2: Effect of Temperature on the Rate of
Reaction
Table
2.
Experimental
(Temperature)

Results

Temp.
(K)

1/Temp. (K1)

Time
(s)

1/time (s-1)

277
331.75
302.2

3.61x10-3
3.01x10-3
3.31x10-3

874
21
88

1.14x10-3
0.48x10-3
0.011x10-3

Based on the data obtained, it can be

concluded that the temperature of the
reaction is directly proportional to the rate of
reaction. The reaction immersed in the ice
bath took the longest time to react while the
one immersed in the hot bath had the
quickest reaction. This meant that by
increasing
the
temperature,
collision
frequency is also increased. The two
reactants will react only if with enough
power. The sign of the activation energy, Ea, is
also significant because a positive value
means increasing temperature always leads
to an increase in the rate constant, and a
decrease if otherwise.
Part 3A: Oxidation of Tartrate by Hydrogen
Peroxide
Table 3.
Tartrate)
Test
Tube
1

Observation

Observation
colorless

(Oxidation

of

Relative
Reaction Time
slower

Pink upper layer, faster

colorless
lower
layer

In this part of the experiment, the

equation used was:
5 H2O2 (aq) + KNaC4H4O6 (aq)
4 CO2 (g) + NaOH (aq) + KOH (aq) + 6 H2O(l)
During the reaction, effervescence
was observed which was caused by the
formation of carbon dioxide, CO2(g). Without
the catalyst the evolution of CO2 is quite slow.
With the cobalt chloride solution the reaction
proceeds with the rapid evolution of CO2.
This is excellent demonstration of the
formation of an intermediate species When
the reaction is complete (no more bubbling),
the catalyst is regenerated. This is shown by
the formation, once again, of the pink color,
indicating the regeneration of the (pink)
CoCl2 catalyst .1
Part 3B: Reaction
Permanganate
Test Tube
1
2

of

Oxalate

with

Reaction Time (s)

1st drop of
KMnO4
Slower
nd
2 drop of
KMnO4
Faster
Slower than test tube 1

In this part of the experiment, the

equation used was:
2KMnO4 + 5Na2C2O4 + 8H2SO4 K2SO4 +
10CO2 + 2MnSO4 + 5Na2SO4 + 8H2O
(2)

Autocatalysis is a kind of mutualism

where organisms of two different species
associate with each member benefitting. 2

Reference:

(2)

http://www.chem.purdue.edu/bcce/kinetics_
and_catalysis.pdf (accessed April 21, 2014)
http://people.biology.ufl.edu/ulan/pubs/Enc
yEcol.pdf (accessed April 22, 2014)