Experiment 1: Factors Affecting Reaction Rates

Karen Mae M. Argonza, Richanela G. Flores, Dianne Clarice T. Lasian

Group 4, Chem 18.1, MAB1, Mr. Marvin Pelovello
August 20, 2015

I.
Abstract
Experiment 1 deals with the factors that affect the reaction rates, which is a topic under chemical
kinetics, the area of chemistry concerned with the speed of how reactions occur. The nature of reactants,
concentration of reactants, temperature, surface area, and catalyst on the rate of reaction were tested and
observed by mixing different substances. Based on the experiment, it was concluded that reactants with low
activation energy react faster and increase concentration, temperature, and surface area increases the reaction
rate. The presence of a catalyst either speeds up or slows down the rate of reaction. Accurate measurements are
recommended to achieve authentic results.
II. Keywords: chemical kinetics, nature of reactants, concentration of reactants, temperature, surface area, catalyst
III. Introduction
Chemical kinetics is the study of reaction rates, the
changes in concentrations of reactants (or products) as
a function of time. The collision theory states that
reactant particles such as molecules, atoms, and ions
must collide with each other in order to react. Moreover,
the requirements to have an effective collision to
produce a chemical reaction, the molecules must have
sufficient energy to initiate the reaction called the
activation energy (Ea) and molecules should have a
proper orientation. This, the rate of chemical reaction is
directly proportional to the number of collision per unit of
time.

A 10ml beaker was placed on top of a white

paper marked with X. 5 ml of 0.15 M Na 2S2O3 was
placed in the beaker and the clarity of the mark was
checked. 1ml of 3M HCl was added forthwith to the
solution and the reaction at the moment the HCl was
added was timed until the X mark was no longer
visible. To observe the effect of the change in
concentration to the reaction rate, the process was
first repeated according to the following schedule:
Constant HCl concentration
0.15 M
Na2S2O3 (ml)
5
4
3
2
1

Different chemical reactions also have different

reaction rates and these reaction rates are affected by
altering its conditions (nature of reactants, concentration,
temperature, surface area, and catalyst) of the reacting
substances.
The objectives of this experiment are to be able to
determine the effects of some factors on reaction rates
and the rate law expression using the method of initial
rates and to evaluate the value of the activation energy
of a reaction. Through this, students will be more
enlightened and knowledgeable about the concepts of
chemical kinetics.
IV. Experimental
To observe the effect of the nature of reactants to
the rate of reactions, 3ml of water was placed in two test
tubes labelled A and B. A strip of Mg ribbon was then
added to test tube A and a small piece of Na was added
to test tube B. Observations after addition of Mg and Na
were then recorded.
Chem 18.1, Factors Affecting Reaction Rates Page 1 of 5

II.

H2O (ml)

3 M HCl (ml)

0
1
2
3
4

1
1
1
1
1

Constant Na2S2O3 Concentration

0.15 M
Na2S2O3 (ml)
5
5
5
5
5

H2O (ml)

3 M HCl (ml)

0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0

2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5

The effect of temperature to the rate of reaction was

observed by first placing two test tubes, labeled 1 and 2.
5ml 0.15M Na2S2O3 was placed in test tube 1 while
7.5ml H2O + 2ml 3M HCl were placed in test tube 2. Both
test tubes were immersed in a water bath containing tap
water for about 5 minutes. The temperature of the water
bath was then measured and recorded. The reagents
were then mixed in a 50-ml beaker placed on top of a
white paper previously marked with an X. The procedure
was repeated at two other temperatures: one at 10oC
lower than room temperature and the other higher than
the room temperature
To study the effect of surface area to the rate of
reactions, two identical strips of Magnesium were
obtained. One of the strips was cut into small pieces and
placed inside a test tube while the uncut Mg strip was
placed inside another test tube. 5ml of 3M HCl was then
added to both test tubes. Observations were then
recorded.
5 mL of 3% H2O2 and one gram of Rochelle salt
(sodium potassium tartrate) was placed in two test
tubes. In the first test tube, the solution was gently
heated and observations were recorded while the other
was heated with same amounts of H 2O2 and Rochelle
salt were mixed but this time, a pinch of CoCl 2 was
added. This was done to observe the effect of catalyst to
the rate of reaction. Observations were then recorded.

0.025

0.5

-3.689

84

0.012

3.638
4.431

Table 2 Data at Constant HCl

Based on the formula M1V1 = M2V2, the different

concentrations of sodium thiosulfate can be calculated
due to different volumes and the constant concentration
of hydrochloric acid.
[Na2S2O3] = (0.15 M) (5 mL) 6 mL = 0.125 M
[Na2S2O3] = (0.15 M) (4 mL) 6 mL = 0.1 M
[Na2S2O3] = (0.15 M) (3 mL) 6 mL = 0.075 M
[Na2S2O3] = (0.15 M) (2 mL) 6 mL = 0.05 M
[Na2S2O3] = (0.15 M) (1 mL) 6 mL = 0.025 M
[HCl] = (3 M) (1 mL) 6 mL = 0.5 M

f(x) = 0.86x - 1.15

R = 0.96

Figure 1 Graph of ln rate vs ln [Na2S2O3]

V. Results
Part A. Nature of Reactants
Test tube
A
B

Visible Results
The reaction progressed slowly. There is
formation of bubbles around the Mg ribbon.
The reaction is faster than A. By the time
the Na metal was mixed with water, it
produced so much bubbles.

Table 1 Results of Part A (Reaction of Mg vs Na)

Part B. Concentration of Reactants

[Na2S2O3]
(M)
0.125
0.1
0.075
0.05

[HCl]
(M)
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5

ln
[Na2S2
O3 ]
-2.079

Time
(s)

Rate
(1/time)
(1/s)

21

0.048

24

0.042

-2.303
-2.590
-2.996

26
38

0.038
0.026

lnRate

3.045
3.178
3.258
-

Chem 18.1, Factors Affecting Reaction Rates Page 2 of 5

The order of reaction can be calculated using linear

regression.
rate = k[Na2S2O3]x[HCl]y
ln rate = xln[Na2S2O3] + yln[HCl] + ln k
y
=m
x
+ b
r2 = 0.9626
m = order with respect to [Na2S2O3] = 0.8644
b = yln[HCl] + ln k = -1.1489
The reaction is first-order with respect to Na2S2O3.
[Na2S2
O3] (M)

[HCl]
(M)

ln[HCl]

0.1

0.1

0.8

-0.223

Time
(s)

15
16

Rate
(1/time)
(1/s)

0.067
0.062
5

lnRate

2.70
8
2.77

0.1

0.6

-0.511

0.1

0.4

-0.916

17

0.1

0.2

0.059

18

0.056

20

0.05

-1.609

3
2.83
3
2.89
0
2.99
6

The reaction is zero-order with respect to [HCl].

Since the order of Na2S2O3 is 1 and the order of HCl
is 0, the overall order of the reaction between Na 2S2O3
and HCl is 1. Substituting all values, it can be said that:
Rate = k[Na2S2O3]1[HCl]0 or simply
Rate = k[Na2S2O3]

Table 3 Data at Constant Na2S2O3

Based on the formula M1V1 = M2V2, the different

concentrations of hydrochloric acid can be calculated
due to different volumes and the constant concentration
of sodium thiosulfate.
[HCl] = (3 M) (2.5 mL) 7.5 mL = 1.0 M
[HCl] = (3 M) (2.0 mL) 7.5 mL = 0.8 M
[HCl] = (3 M) (1.5 mL) 7.5 mL = 0.6 M
[HCl] = (3 M) (1.0 mL) 7.5 mL = 0.4 M
[HCl] = (3 M) (0.5 mL) 7.5 mL = 0.2 M
[Na2S2O3] = (0.15 M) (5 mL) 7.5 mL = 0.1 M

Finding k (rate constant):

In finding the value of k, linear regression might be
used because the y-intercept is related to k.
Solving for the rate constant (k):
a b = yln[HCl] + ln k =
ln k = -1.1489 (0.1724) ln(0.5 M)
= -1.029401426
k = e-1.029401426 = 0.357
b b = xln[Na2S2O3] + ln k = -2.727
ln k = -2.727 (0.8644) ln(0.1 M)
= -0.736645445
k = e-0.736645445 = 0.479

f(x) = 0.17x - 2.73

R = 0.98

Figure 2 Graph of ln rate vs ln [HCl]

The order of reaction can be calculated using linear

regression.
rate = k[Na2S2O3]x[HCl]y
ln rate = yln[HCl] + xln[Na2S2O3] + ln k
y =m
x
+
b
2
r = 0.9829
m = order with respect to [HCl] = 0.1724
b = xln[Na2S2O3] + ln k = -2.727

Figure 3 It shows the actual experiment we had made in Part 2

with 0.025M Na2S2O3 and 0.5 HCl.

Part C. Temperature
Temp
(C)

41
Chem 18.1, Factors Affecting Reaction Rates Page 3 of 5

1/T (K)

0.003

time

Rate
(1/time)

30

0.033

lnk

0.644

-0.4389

18

31

0.003
29

39

0.025
6

0.496
0

21

0.003
40

51

0.019
61

0.379
3

0.7012
6
0.9695
3

Table 4 Data obtained for Part C (Temperature)

Based on the formula, M1V1 = M2V2

Reactants
H2O2 +
Rochelle
Salt
H2O2 +
Rochelle
Salt +
CoCl2

Visible Results
The solution turned yellowish, producing
bubbles. After heating, the white
precipitate at the bottom was slowly
dissolved in the solution.
The reaction is faster compared to the
one without CoCl2. The solution turned
yellow to purple to green to brown to
pink. Each transition and change in color
was observed after some seconds each
in between.

We calculated the concentrations of hydrochloric

acid and sodium thiosulfate in the reaction.
[Na2S2O3] = (0.15 M) (5 mL) 14.5 mL = 0.0517 M
[HCl] = (3 M) (2 mL) 14.5 mL = 0.4138 M

Reactants
Strip of Mg
Smaller
pieces of Mg

Visible Results
There is slower production of gas.
There is faster production of gas

Figure 5 Actual experiment conducted for Part C. The room

temperature was measured by a thermometer submerged in a
water together with the two test tubes containing the reagents
for five minutes

In finding the activation energy (E a) in Joules, we

used the Arrhenius equation,
lnk = (-Ea/R) (1/T) + lnA
y= mx+ b
m=(-Ea/R)=-2451.1
Ea= -(-2451.1K) (8.314J/mol K)
Ea= 20378.4454 J/mol
Part D. Surface Area
Part E. Catalyst

f(x) = - 2451.11x + 7.36

R = 1

Figure 4 Graph of ln k vs 1/T

Figure 6 Actual experiment we had conducted for Part E. The

yellow solution is the H2O2 + Rochelle Salt while the purple one
is the H2O2 + Rochelle Salt + CoCl2.

VI. Discussion
Reaction rate is described as the amount of
reactant consumed or reacted per unit time. It describes
how the concentration of a reactant changes over the
course of the reaction. Though it is still unknown how
Chem 18.1, Factors Affecting Reaction Rates Page 4 of 5

reactions proceed in reality, there are two theories that

aim to explain it (Harry Engle, 2007).
The Collision Theory is based on the assumption
that reaction occurs due to the molecular collisions
between the particles of the reactants, forming the
products in result. But, this does not mean that collision
is the only basis, it also assumes that there are different
reaction rates because not all collisions are effective. A
collision is only effective if it has enough energy to meet
a reactions activation energy (the energy required for a
reaction to proceed), and if the colliding particles have
the right orientation. The Transition State Theory
assumes that in all reactions, a short-lived intermediate
complex forms before the product. The rate of the
reaction is dependent on the formation of the complex.
The lower the energy requirement for the complex to
form, the faster the reaction proceeds. This is the
reactions activation energy (Harry Engle, 2007).
There are several factors that influence reaction
rates. In the first part of the experiment, using different
reactants caused the same reaction to proceed
differently. (Factors That Affect Reaction Rates, n.d.)
(Petrucci, 2011)The Na reacted faster than the Mg in
H2O. This allow us to conclude that the reaction between
Na and H2O required a lower activation energy. The
following shows both reactions.
Mg(s) + H2O(l) --> MgO(s) + H2(g)
2Na + 2H2O(l) --> 2NaOH(aq) + H2(g)
The next setup explains the effect of
concentration in reactions. In the first part, [HCl] is held
constant, while [Na2S2O3] is constantly diminished. It was
observed that this results to a direct proportion between
the decrease in [Na2S2O3] and the reaction rate. Using
linear regression, in which the order of the reaction can
be derived from the slope (m), 0.8644 rounded to 1, the
reaction is first order. However, the r2 value, 0.9626, is
not desirable. This might be due to error in taking note of
the time values for the reaction.
Another setup, this time holding [Na 2S2O3]
constant while decreasing [HCl] yielded similar results.
The decrease in [HCl] caused reaction rates to
decrease. Using linear regression, the slope is 0.1724
rounded to 0, shows that the reaction is zeroth order.
The overall reaction then, from 0+1=1, is in the first
order. The rate law expression is:
Rate=k[Na2S2O3]
From the Collision Theory, it can be assumed that
this decrease in reaction rate is caused by the
diminished number of particles in the reactant. This
causes the number or chances for effective collisions to
also decrease. Concentration is directly proportional to
reaction rate.
The third part illustrates the effect of temperature. A
higher temperature causes an increase in the kinetic
energy of the particles of the reactants, making them
collide more frequently and thus more effectively. A
decrease in temperature causes an opposite result,
Chem 18.1, Factors Affecting Reaction Rates Page 5 of 5

because the lower kinetic energy means less collisions.

Also, temperature increases the initial energy of the
reactants, which makes the activation energy easier to
attain. Temperature is also directly proportional to
reaction rate.
In the fourth part, Mg ribbon in strip form and in
pieces was allowed to react with HCl. The setup with Mg
pieces reacted more. A higher surface area, such as
those in granulated or powder form, or in this case in
smaller strips, have more exposed particles available for
reaction. In reactions involving fluid reactants, particles
are in constant movement and thus collide on their own.
But in setups involving those in different states, such as
a solid and a liquid, solid particles are not moving in the
same haste and as those of the liquid. Because of its
bonds holding it tightly together, the liquid particles react
only with those on the surface of the solid. Surface area
is directly proportional to reaction rate.
CoCl2 served as the catalyst in this reaction. A
catalyst is a substance that changes the way a reaction
proceeds. It can hasten a reaction and act as an
accelerator or a positive catalyst that forms a series of
complexes that have lower activation energies than the
single step reaction. But, it can also act as an inhibitor or
a negative catalyst. The original setup with only the
Rochelles salt and hydrogen peroxide turned yellow
before all the Rochelles salt was consumed. Observing
that the addition of CoCl 2 caused the reaction to change,
the setup with the catalyst had undergone a series of
color changes before settling to pink. At first, the reaction
with the catalyst could not be properly observed,
requiring the experimenters to repeat the reaction with
only a small amount of catalyst. (Silberberg, 2010)
(Harry Engle, 2007)
VII. Conclusion and Recommendations
In conclusion, the experiment proved that there
are several factors that can affect reaction rates. Namely,
these are; nature of reactants, concentration of reactants,
temperature, surface area and catalysis.
The nature of reactants can influence reaction
rates in such a way that activation energy is inversely
proportional with reaction rate. The lower the activation
energy of a reactant, the faster the reaction can proceed.
A higher concentration of reactants increases the
number of effective collisions in a reaction. This increase
causes the reactants to be consumed faster, therefore
increasing reaction rates. Concentration of reactants is
directly proportional to reaction rate.
Temperature alters the initial energy of the
reactants, with an increase resulting to the higher kinetic
energy possessed by the particles of the reactants. This
also increases the chances for effective collisions,
hastening the reaction. Temperature is directly
proportional to reaction rate.
The surface area of a reactant determines the
number of particles exposed for reaction. A higher surface

area, such as in grains or powder, exposes more of the

reactant for reaction. Thus, surface area is also directly
proportional to reaction rate.
Catalysts are substances that can alter a reaction
by presenting a different path for a reaction to proceed,
without being consumed in the process. They can either
slow or hasten a reaction, and thus can be either an
accelerator/positive or inhibitor/negative.
Recommendations for this experiment would be:
To monitor the amount of reactants closely, as it can
amount to errors and the effect of the factor would be
missed. Also, to take down significant changes in the
setups as detailed as possible, such as the time values
for reactions, color change and the amount of production
of gas.
VIII. References

Factors That Affect Reaction Rates. (n.d.).

Retrieved from UC Davis Chemwiki:
http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Physical_Che
mistry/Kinetics/Factors_That_Affect_Reacti
on_Rates
Harry Engle, L. I. (2007). Learning Modules in
Generaal Chemistry 2. Chemistry Unit,
DPSM, CAS, UPM.

Chem 18.1, Factors Affecting Reaction Rates Page 6 of 5

Petrucci, R. (2011). General Chemistry:

Principles and Modern Applications, 10th
ed. Toronto: Pearson Canada.
Silberberg, Martin S. Principles of General
Chemistry, Second Edition. McGraw-Hill
Companies, Inc. New York. 2010.
I hereby certify that
contribution to this report.

Karen Mae M. Argonza

Richanela G. Flores

Dianne Clarice T. Lasian

have

given

substantial