Many factors can increase or decrease rates of chemical reactions - pressure of gases, temperature, surface area of solids, concentration and if there is a catalyst. Anything that will change the probability of particles colliding or change the energy of the collisions will affect the rate of a reaction. This is the second of three GCSE Chemistry quizzes looking at these factors.
Rates of reaction measure the speed at which the reactants change into the products during a chemical reaction. Manufacturers rely on producing large amounts of product quickly, in order for their process to be economically viable. There are a number of factors that need to be taken into consideration and often compromises need to be made. An example of one of these compromises is the temperature - lower temperatures decrease the rate of reaction and higher ones increase it.. If a manufacturer increases the temperature of a chemical reaction, more product will be made in a shorter time but the energy costs will be higher. This energy needs to be generated somehow, if it comes from burning a fuel, it also means more pollutants will be sent into the air. A good understanding of how reactions can be speeded up or controlled is vital to ensure that the best compromises are reached.
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Collisions of particles cause reactions. At all temperatures above absolute zero, particles are in motion (the kinetic theory). Therefore, when the particles of two reacting substances are mixed, it is very likely that they will collide with each other. Solids mixed together don't normally react as their particles are fixed in place, however, introduce a gas or liquid and collisions will occur because the particles are free to move around.
If the particles are slow moving, they have less energy, collisions between them will therefore also involve less energy than if they were moving quickly. If particles collide head-on, that will involve more energy than if one collides with the other from behind or if they collide from the side or at an angle. This means that not all collisions between particles will lead to a chemical reaction. If there are high concentrations of particles, there will be more collisions per second which means there will be a greater likelihood of collisions that result in a reaction.
When you studied exothermic and endothermic reactions and energy level diagrams, you will have learnt that for a chemical reaction to happen, bonds between atoms must first be broken and then they can re-form. There is also a minimum level of energy required for a reaction, the activation energy. This represents the energy that is required to break the bonds of the original reactants when they collide. Putting together the two ideas of collisions between particles and bond breaking/making gives an understanding of rates of reaction.
Have a go at this quiz and see how well you understand how rates of reaction can be increased or decreased.
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1.
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Increasing the temperature of the reactants in a chemical reaction increases the rate of the chemical reaction. This is because... |
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| [ ] |
particles collide less often, but they have more energy |
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particles collide more often and they collide with less energy |
| [ ] |
particles collide more often and they collide with more energy |
| [ ] |
particles collide less often with less energy |
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2.
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Around room temperature, if we increase the temperature of a reaction by 10°C, the rate of the reaction will approximately... |
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| [ ] |
halve |
| [ ] |
triple |
| [ ] |
stay the same |
| [ ] |
double |
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3.
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Why does increasing the concentration of reactants increase the rate of a reaction? |
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If the concentration of reactants is increased, there are more particles available to react |
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If the concentration of reactants is increased, the particles have more energy |
| [ ] |
If the concentration of reactants is increased, there are fewer particles available to react |
| [ ] |
If the concentration of reactants is increased, the particles are at the right angle to collide |
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4.
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How does increasing the pressure increase the rate of a chemical reaction? |
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If the pressure is increased, the particles are further away from each other |
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If the pressure is increased, the particles are moving faster |
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If the pressure is increased, the particles have more energy |
| [ ] |
If the pressure is increased, the particles are closer together |
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5.
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A catalyst speeds up a chemical reaction by... |
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| [ ] |
reducing the amount of energy required by the particles to react |
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increasing the amount of energy required by the particles to react |
| [ ] |
increasing the pressure of the reactants |
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increasing the temperature of the reactants |
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6.
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If the surface area of a solid reactant is increased, why is the rate of reaction increased? |
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There are fewer particles on the surface of the solid available to react |
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There are more particles on the surface of the solid available to react |
| [ ] |
The particles are moving more quickly |
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The particles have more energy |
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7.
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Scientists have developed catalysts that enable reactions to take place at lower temperatures. Why is this advantageous to the manufacturer and the environment? |
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It is cheaper for the manufacturer because less fuel is needed to provide the high temperatures
It is better for the environment because there is less fuel being burnt and so less carbon dioxide being emitted |
| [ ] |
It is better for the manufacturer because catalysts are cheap to buy
It is better for the environment because the catalyst does not harm the environment |
| [ ] |
It is better for the manufacturer because the catalyst can be reused
It is better for the environment because there are more toxic gases being released |
| [ ] |
It is better for the manufacturer because the catalyst is often very expensive
It is better for the environment because there are fewer toxic emissions |
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8.
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Chemical reactions eventually stop. What is the usual reason for this? |
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Reactants run out |
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Catalyst runs out |
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Particles have used up all their energy |
| [ ] |
Products have taken the particles' energy |
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9.
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Why can icing sugar cause an explosion but sugar lumps can't? |
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The icing sugar has more energy |
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The icing sugar has more particles |
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The icing sugar has a larger surface area |
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The sugar lumps have more energy |
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10.
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Some chemical reactions may take place twice as quickly if their temperature is raised by 10°C. If a particular reaction takes 32 minutes at 20°C, how long will it take if the temperature is raised to 60°C? |
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| [ ] |
2 minutes |
| [ ] |
4 minutes |
| [ ] |
6 minutes |
| [ ] |
8 minutes |
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1.
|
Increasing the temperature of the reactants in a chemical reaction increases the rate of the chemical reaction. This is because... |
|
| [ ] |
particles collide less often, but they have more energy |
| [ ] |
particles collide more often and they collide with less energy |
| [x] |
particles collide more often and they collide with more energy |
| [ ] |
particles collide less often with less energy |
|
|
|
2.
|
Around room temperature, if we increase the temperature of a reaction by 10°C, the rate of the reaction will approximately... |
|
| [ ] |
halve |
| [ ] |
triple |
| [ ] |
stay the same |
| [x] |
double |
|
|
|
3.
|
Why does increasing the concentration of reactants increase the rate of a reaction? |
|
| [x] |
If the concentration of reactants is increased, there are more particles available to react |
| [ ] |
If the concentration of reactants is increased, the particles have more energy |
| [ ] |
If the concentration of reactants is increased, there are fewer particles available to react |
| [ ] |
If the concentration of reactants is increased, the particles are at the right angle to collide |
|
|
|
4.
|
How does increasing the pressure increase the rate of a chemical reaction? |
|
| [ ] |
If the pressure is increased, the particles are further away from each other |
| [ ] |
If the pressure is increased, the particles are moving faster |
| [ ] |
If the pressure is increased, the particles have more energy |
| [x] |
If the pressure is increased, the particles are closer together |
|
|
|
5.
|
A catalyst speeds up a chemical reaction by... |
|
| [x] |
reducing the amount of energy required by the particles to react |
| [ ] |
increasing the amount of energy required by the particles to react |
| [ ] |
increasing the pressure of the reactants |
| [ ] |
increasing the temperature of the reactants |
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6.
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If the surface area of a solid reactant is increased, why is the rate of reaction increased? |
|
| [ ] |
There are fewer particles on the surface of the solid available to react |
| [x] |
There are more particles on the surface of the solid available to react |
| [ ] |
The particles are moving more quickly |
| [ ] |
The particles have more energy |
|
|
|
7.
|
Scientists have developed catalysts that enable reactions to take place at lower temperatures. Why is this advantageous to the manufacturer and the environment? |
|
| [x] |
It is cheaper for the manufacturer because less fuel is needed to provide the high temperatures
It is better for the environment because there is less fuel being burnt and so less carbon dioxide being emitted |
| [ ] |
It is better for the manufacturer because catalysts are cheap to buy
It is better for the environment because the catalyst does not harm the environment |
| [ ] |
It is better for the manufacturer because the catalyst can be reused
It is better for the environment because there are more toxic gases being released |
| [ ] |
It is better for the manufacturer because the catalyst is often very expensive
It is better for the environment because there are fewer toxic emissions |
|
|
|
8.
|
Chemical reactions eventually stop. What is the usual reason for this? |
|
| [x] |
Reactants run out |
| [ ] |
Catalyst runs out |
| [ ] |
Particles have used up all their energy |
| [ ] |
Products have taken the particles' energy |
|
|
|
9.
|
Why can icing sugar cause an explosion but sugar lumps can't? |
|
| [ ] |
The icing sugar has more energy |
| [ ] |
The icing sugar has more particles |
| [x] |
The icing sugar has a larger surface area |
| [ ] |
The sugar lumps have more energy |
|
|
|
10.
|
Some chemical reactions may take place twice as quickly if their temperature is raised by 10°C. If a particular reaction takes 32 minutes at 20°C, how long will it take if the temperature is raised to 60°C? |
|
| [x] |
2 minutes |
| [ ] |
4 minutes |
| [ ] |
6 minutes |
| [ ] |
8 minutes |
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