Lab 3: Reaction Order and Rate Laws

Purpose / Introduction
This lab will provide a physically-observable demonstration of how concentrations will
or will not affect reaction rates. The reaction rate of a reactant is the time elapsed for the reaction
to occur. Changes of certain factors can alter the speed of a reaction rate: surface area,
temperature, catalysts, and concentrations. In this lab the concentrations are altered, and the
chemical reaction is observable by a change in color and precipitate formation. By timing the
chemical reaction, the rate constants and orders orders are usually positive integers, but can also
be fractions or negative integers can be calculated to express the "Rate Law" equation
x
y
Rate=k [ A ] [ B ]
In this lab, the reactants will be

HCl and

concentration will be varied while

part of the lab,

Na 2 S2 O3

Na 2 S2 O3

Na 2 S2 O3

. In one part of the lab,

HCl

concentration is held constant. In the second

concentration is varied while

HCl concentration is held constant.

I expect the reactions between the reactants will produce a precipitate that will cloud the
mixtures' visibilities. I also expect the time for the reaction rate will increase as the solution's
dilution increases.
Prelab Questions
N/A
Procedure
Refer to CHE 112-BK01 lab manual
Lab 3: Reaction Order and Rate Laws (page 104)
Data / Results

Part II: Varying the Concentration of 1.0 M HCl

Varying the Concentration of

1.0 M HCl

Concentrations
Reaction Time (sec)

We
ll #

#
drops

HCl

#
drops
Wate
r

#
drops

Initi
al

Na 2 S2 O3 HCl

12

1.0M
0.50
M
0.33
M

Initial

Final

Na 2 S2 O3 HCl

0.30M
0.30M
0.30M

0.60
M
0.30
M
0.20
M

sec 1 )

Final

Na2 S2 O3Trial

0.12M
0.12M
0.12M

Reaction
Rate (

1
30.3
4
43.0
1
50.0
9

Trial
2
34.3
7
46.1
7
50.6
9

Avera
ge
32.36

0.03090

44.59

0.02243

50.39

0.01985

Colorless solution yields a milky white precipitate that eventually becomes a milky lemon
yellow color.

Part III: Varying the Concentration of

0.30 M N a2 S 2 O3
0.30 M HCl

Varying the Concentration of

Concentrations

Reaction Time (sec)

We
ll #

#
drops

HCl

#
drops
Wate
r

#
drops

Initi
al

Initial

Na 2 S2 O3 HCl

Final

Na 2 S2 O3 HCl

12

1.0M

0.30M

1.0M

0.15M

1.0M

0.10M

0.40
M
0.40
M
0.40
M

Reaction
Rate (

sec 1 )

Final

Na2 S2 O3Trial

1
28.4
6
69.4
2
153.
52

0.18M
0.09M
0.06M

Trial
2
27.9
5
64.5
4
153.
89

Avera
ge
28.21

0.03545

66.98

0.01493

153.71

0.006506

Colorless solution yields a milky white precipitate that eventually becomes a milky lemon
yellow color.
Part IV: Calculations
Varied 1.0 M HCl

Varied

0.30 M Na 2 S 2 O3

Initial
( 1.0 M ) (12 drops )
=1.0 M
12 drops

Final
Initial
Final
( 1.0 M ) (12 drops )
( 0.30 M ) ( 12drops )
( 0.30 M ) ( 12drops )
=0.60 M
=0.30 M
=0.18 M
20 drops
12 drops
20 drops

( 1.0 M ) ( 6 drops )
=0.50 M
12 drops

( 0.50 M ) ( 12drops )
( 0.30 M ) ( 6 drops )
( 0.15 M ) ( 12drops )
=0.30 M
=0.15 M
=0.09 M
20 drops
12 drops
20 drops

( 1.0 M ) ( 4 drops )
=0.33 M
12 drops

( 0.33 M ) ( 12drops )
( 0.30 M ) ( 4 drops )
( 0.10 M ) ( 12drops )
=0.20 M
=0.10 M
=0.06 M
20 drops
12drops
20 drops

Constant

0.30 M Na 2 S 2 O3

Constant

( 0.30 M ) ( 8 drops )
( 0.30 M ) ( 8 drops )
( 1.0 M ) ( 8 drops )
=0.30 M
=0.12 M
=1.0 M
8 drops
20 drops
8 drops
1
2

[ HCl ] ( M )

1
3

Concentrations

[ Na2 S2 O3 ](M )

Rate

[ HCl ] ( M )

1.0 M HCl

( 1.0 M ) ( 8 drops )
=0.40 M
20 drops

Concentrations

[ Na2 S2 O3 ](M )

Rate

1.0

0.30

3.3 102

1.0

0.30

3.3 102

0.50

0.30

2.2 102

0.33

0.30

2.0 102

1.0

0.15

1.5 . 102

1.0

0.10

0.65 102

1
2

1
3

Concentrations
x

[ 0.50 ]
2.210
=
2
x
3.3 10
[ 1.0 ]
2 1
=
3 2

()

[ 0.33 ]
2.0 10
=
2
x
3.3 10
[ 1.0 ]

20 1
=
33 3

()

[ HCl ]

x=0
y

()

5
5
=
11 10

[ HCl ]
y

0.65 102 [ 0.10 ]

=
3.3 102 [ 0.30 ] y

( )

13 1
=
66 3

()

13 13
=
66 39

( )

[ Na2 S2 O3 ]

y=1

1. For the varied

[ Na2 S2 O3 ]

Rate=k [ HCl ] [ Na2 S2 O3 ]

Rate Law:

Rate=k [ Na2 S2 O 3 ]

Postlab Questions
C.

y=1

Rate=k [ HCl ] [ Na2 S2 O3 ]

Rate Law:

x=0

1.5 . 102 [ 0.15 ]

=
3.3 102 [ 0.30 ] y
5
1
=
11 2

Concentrations

Rate=k [ Na 2 S2 O3 ]

HCl portion of the lab, the reaction order was calculated to be 0 ;

thus the reaction order is of the zero order: concentration does not affect the rate.
Na 2 S2 O3
2. The varied
concentration's calculated reaction order is 1 : first order
reaction; the rate is directly proportional to the concentration, thus a doubled
concentration results in a doubled rate.
1
Na 2 S2 O3
D. The rate law for the reaction of HCl and
is Rate=k [ Na 2 S2 O3 ] .
E. Using the equation
3.3 102

Rate=k [ Na 2 S2 O 3 ]

M
=k ( 0.30 )1 M
s

the constant k

can be calculated.

3.3 102
k=

M
s

0.30 M

= 3.3 10

M
s

)( 0.301 M )

k =1.1 101 s1
F. Potential errors in the experiment can be located in several areas. First, if one's calculations
Na 2 S2 O3
are not correct, errors can be found from the concentrations of HCl and
to the
reaction orders, rate law, and even the constant k . Another potential error could be
misconstruing the change of concentrations between the three wells for each part of the lab;
between the first well and the second well the concentrations are halved, and between the first
well and the third well the concentrations differ by a third; however, one may misconstrue the
differences and assume each well possess half the concentration of the well before it.
Additionally, calculations for this lab compared to the book's prescribed directions vary, and may
confuse individuals during calculations.
Another potential error that my group found was that by observing the X sign for a
prolonged period of time almost created a "burned" image of the X sign, thus making it difficult
to distinguish when the sulfur precipitate completely obscured the X sign. As a result, the times
recorded are possibly inaccurate. Also, if the well plate was not cleaned in a timely manner,
precipitate formed to the well walls, and could become a nuisance to clean to prevent future
contamination for other labs.
Conclusion
Prior to the lab I predicted two outcomes: produced precipitation and increase of reaction
rate as the reactant became more dilute. The lab produced results that support my predictions:
solid sulfur formed the precipitate, and the elapsed time of chemical reaction increased as the
reactant concentration become more dilute. Other observations were made during the lab. After
the lab was completed and calculations were made other determinations were made. Different
concentrations of HCl were hardly "dented" the reaction rates and reaction time: change of
reaction time between well 1 and well 3 was 18.03 seconds. On the other hand, different
Na 2 S2 O3
concentrations of
proved excellent success in altering the reaction rates and reaction
time: change of reaction time between well 1 and well 3 was 125.50 seconds. As a result, the
order of reaction for HCl is of the zero order and does not affect rate constant k ; whereas
the order of reaction for

Na 2 S2 O3

is the first order and directly affects rate constant k .