UKUK USUSIndiaIndia
Progress you can see
Parents Students Tutors Teachers QuizMaster
Join Us
UKUK USUSIndiaIndia
Join Us
KS1 (Age 5-7)KS2 (Age 7-11)11 Plus (Age 7-11)KS3 (Age 11-14)GCSE (Age 14-17)PSHEA.I.ESLSpanishSpecialistGames
Lucy
Ask the AI Tutor
Need help with Rates of Reaction 3? Ask our AI Tutor!
Lucy AI Tutor - Lucy
Connecting with Tutor...
Please wait while we establish connection
Lucy
Hi! I'm Lucy, your AI tutor. How can I help you with Rates of Reaction 3 today?
now
0/50 words
  1. Home
  2. GCSE
  3. Chemistry
  4. Rates of Reaction 3
Rates of Reaction 3
Reactions can only happen if the colliding particles have enough energy.

Rates of Reaction 3

Discover what controls reaction speed and why some reactions finish quickly. Explore how temperature, surface area, pressure and catalysts affect particle behaviour and measurable reaction rates.

Explore the Topic →
(quiz starts below)

Fascinating Fact:

A reaction is faster when particles collide more often and with enough energy. This idea is called collision theory.

In GCSE Chemistry, rates of reaction are explained by how particles behave in different conditions. Heating gives particles more kinetic energy, so a greater proportion can overcome activation energy. Increasing pressure (for gases) or concentration (for solutions) brings particles closer together, raising how frequently they meet. Using a powdered solid increases surface area, exposing more particles at once, while a catalyst provides an alternative pathway with lower activation energy so the reaction happens faster.

Key Terms

  • Activation energy: The minimum energy particles need for a reaction to start.
  • Catalyst: A substance that speeds up a reaction without being used up, by providing a lower-energy route.
  • Surface area: The amount of exposed solid that can react; smaller pieces have a larger surface area overall.

Frequently Asked Questions

What factors affect rate of reaction in GCSE Chemistry?

The main factors are temperature, concentration (solutions), pressure (gases), surface area (solids), and catalysts. Each one changes how easily reactant particles can react.

Why does increasing surface area increase the rate of reaction?

Increasing surface area exposes more reactant particles in a solid. More particles are available at the same time, so reactions at the surface can happen more frequently.

How does a catalyst speed up a reaction?

A catalyst provides an alternative reaction pathway with a lower activation energy. This means a greater proportion of particles have enough energy to react at the same temperature.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .
On an energy level diagram, what effect would adding a catalyst have to the reaction on the line showing the energy for a reaction?
It would go higher
It would not go as high
It would be the same
It would be a straight line not a curve
A catalyst lowers the activation energy or energy required for the reaction to take place. For the GCSE, make sure that you can label energy level diagrams
2 .
What units do we use to measure concentration?
kmol/dm3
mol/dm3
mol/dm2
mol/dm
Moles per cubic decimetre
3 .
Which of the following is NOT a disadvantage of using a catalyst in a chemical reaction?
They can be reused multiple times
If a reaction is going too fast, simple mistakes can be made
They can be poisoned by impurities and stop working
They can be expensive
Catalysts are not used up in chemical reactions
4 .
Which of the following statements about the effect the size of the pieces of a solid on the rate of a chemical reaction is true?
The smaller the pieces, the bigger the surface area so there is more surface area to be attacked
The bigger the pieces, the smaller the surface area, so there is more surface area to be attacked
The bigger the pieces the bigger the surface area so there is more surface area to be attacked
The smaller the pieces, the smaller the surface area so there is more surface area to be attacked
The larger surface area means that there are more particles available to be involved in collisions. It is only ever the surface layer of particles of solids that are involved in reactions
5 .
Platinum is used as a catalyst in the production of nitric acid. Which of the following statements is correct?
The catalysed reaction requires more energy than the uncatalysed reaction
The catalysed reaction will produce more nitric acid than the reaction without platinum
The mass of platinum will remain the same throughout the reaction
The particles in the catalysed reaction will have more energy than the particles in a reaction without the platinum
As the platinum does not take part in the reaction itself, it does not gain or lose mass
6 .
Calcium carbonate (marble) reacts with hydrochloric acid to produce water, carbon dioxide and calcium chloride. Which of the following combinations is likely to result in the fastest rate of reaction?
1g of marble chips with 50ml of hydrochloric acid at 20 °C
1g of marble powder with 50ml of hydrochloric acid at 20 °C
1g of marble chips with 50ml of hydrochloric acid at 30 °C
1g of marble powder with 50ml of hydrochloric acid at 30 °C
Increasing the surface area and the temperature will increase the rate of reaction greatly
7 .
What apparatus is used to measure the volume of gas given off in a reaction?
Stop clock
Ruler
Gas syringe
Test tube
You can also use apparatus such as a measuring cylinder, a graduated test tube or even a burette
8 .
Which of the following does NOT affect the rate of a chemical reaction between a solid and a liquid?
Concentration
Temperature
Altitude
Surface area
Carrying out the reaction at a different altitude would affect the pressure. Changes in pressure affect only reactions involving gases
9 .
What is activation energy?
The maximum energy that particles need to change into a new substance
The minimum energy required to break the bonds of the colliding chemicals
The minimum energy that particles need to change into a new particle
The maximum energy that particles need to change into a new substance when they collide with other particles
Reactions involve bonds being broken followed by new, different bonds being formed
10 .
Which of the following statements about collisions is correct?
Only fast-moving particles collide with each other
All colliding particles have the same amount of energy
Reactions can only happen if the colliding particles have enough energy
All colliding particles are at the same temperature
If there is sufficient energy involved in a collision between particles, the bonds will break
You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Rates of reaction

Author:  Kate Gardiner (Chemistry Educator & GCSE Quiz Writer)
Chemistry Play this quiz again

Here to Help

Contact Us
FAQs
Your Account

Resources

Parents Knowledge Bank Blog Links and Resources Quiz List and Sitemap Colour Filters Safe AI Survey Results

About

Our Team Testimonials Parent Reviews Terms and Conditions Privacy Polity

© Copyright 2016-2026 - Education Quizzes
Work Innovate Ltd - Design | Development | Marketing

We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website.

To comply with the e-Privacy directive, we need your consent - I agree - No thanks - Learn more