Summative Report 1

Aim

To investigate the effect of sodium thiosulfate solution reacting with hydrochloric acid
on the rate of reaction by the factors.

Introduction

The rate of reaction is a measure of how fast a reactant is used up, or a product is
formed. The factors affecting the rate of reaction are temperature, concentration and
surface area. When sodium thiosulfate solution is reacted with hydrochloric acid,
sulphur is produced and causes the solution turns cloudy. From this experiment,
when the solutions turn cloudy, it shows that the reaction is complete.

Equipment and Procedure

Equipment:

- Beaker
- Measuring cylinder
- A sheet of paper with an X’ marked on
- 0.25M of sodium thiosulfate solution
- Water
- 2.0M of hydrochloric acid
- Alka-Seltzer tablet
- Thermometer
- Stopwatch.

Procedure:

1. For part A, the beaker was placed on the paper labelled ‘X’, measure 10mL of
sodium thiosulfate solution and poured into the 100mL beaker, then added
35mL of water into the beaker and measured the volume by using a 25mL
measuring cylinder.
2. Record the temperature of the solution by using thermometer, then add 5mL
of hydrochloric acid and start the stopwatch. Stop the stopwatch when the
solution became cloudy and disappeared view of the ‘X’ and record the time
taken.
3. Repeat the steps preparing the same volume of sodium thiosulfate solution
and water, then placed the beaker into the ice bath for 5 minutes and record
the temperature. Then a 5mL of hydrochloric acid was added into the solution,
placed on the paper and record the time taken for the ‘X’ to disappear.
4. Repeat steps for one for time and placed into a water bath and record the
temperature after 5 minutes. Then 5mL of hydrochloric acid added to the
solution and record the time taken for the ‘X’ to be disappeared.
5. For part B, a clean beaker was used to add 10mL of sodium thiosulfate
solution and 35mL of water then added 5mL of hydrochloric acid. Record the
time taken when the ‘X’ disappeared.
 6. The same beaker was used, 25mL of sodium thiosulfate solution and 20mL
of water was added, then 5mL of hydrochloric acid was added. Similarly, the
time taken was recorded.
7. 40mL of sodium thiosulfate and 5mL of water was added to the beaker and
with 5mL of hydrochloric acid. Record the reaction time.
8. For part C, two Alka-Seltzer tablets were used and one of them was crushed
into powder formed by using a mortar and pestle. 75mL of water was
measured and poured into both separate beakers. Add the whole tablet into
one of the beaker and record the time taken for it to dissolve. Then, the
powdered one was added to the other beaker and record the time taken for it
to dissolve.

Results
Part A

Beaker Temperature (℃) Reaction time (s) Rate of reaction

(1/Time)

1 25.5 54.2 0.0185

2 10.0 104 0.00962

3 56.0 16.0 0.0625

Part B

Volume of sodium Volume of water Reaction time (s) Rate of reaction

Beaker thiosulfate solution (mL) ( 1/Time )
(mL)

1 10 35 48.2 0.0207

2 25 20 17 0.0588

3 40 5 11 0.0909
Part C

Surface Area of Alka-Seltzer Volume of Water (mL) Time Taken to dissolve (s)

tablet 75.0 83.0

powdered 75.0 24.0

Data Analysis and Discussion
Safety precaution:
Wear gloves to prevent skin contact because hydrochloric acid was used. Next,
dispose all the solution after the experiment through the drain, wash it and rinse it
before placing back to the rack. Finally, clean and wipe the table after the experiment
so that no leftovers left on the table.

Calculation:

C1V1= C2V2

1. 0.25M x 10mL = C2 x (35+10)mL

C2= 0.0556M

2. 0.25M x 25mL = C2 x (20+25)mL

C2=0.139M

3. 0.25M x 40mL = C2 x (40+50)mL

C2=0.222M

Observations:

When the temperature is higher, the faster the reaction because of a greater
frequency of successful collisions. The higher the concentration, the reaction time is
less and the rate of reaction is faster. When the reactant is in powdered form, it
means giving a greater surface area and the time taken to react is lesser and a
faster rate of reaction.

Error in this experiment:

Error in the experiment are the readings are inaccurate because of residue left in the
measuring cylinder when measuring the volume of sodium thiosulfate, water and
hydrochloric acid as the same measuring cylinder was used. Not only that, readings
are not taken at the perpendicular scale of viewing, readings have to be taken in the
correct angle of viewing and read from the bottom of the meniscus.

Experimental Design
Improvements:

Improvements in the experiment are to repeat it a few times to get more accurate
results by finding the average of each reading because the experiment only done
once. Besides, use a pipette to measure the volume of solutions instead of using a
measuring cylinder.

Green Chemistry Principles:

Safer solvents were used in the experiment. This is because water was used as a
solvent and water is safe and neutral. Secondly, less hazardous chemical synthesis
in this experiment. This is due to sodium thiosulfate was reacted with hydrochloric
acid and sulfur dioxide was produced. The solvents used were less hazardous as
well as the gas produced.

Conclusion

The concentration, temperature and surface area are directly proportional to the rate
of reaction. There is an increase in the rate of reaction because there is a larger
number of effective collisions per unit time.

References
Bitesize. (n.d). Rates of Reaction.
Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zyb4h39/revision/1

Essays, UK. (November 2018). Sodium Thiosulphate and Hydrochloric Acid.

Retrieved from https://www.ukessays.com/essays/chemistry/test-affected-by-
changing-the-concentration.php

Marques.(n.d). Sodium Thiosulfate in Hydrochloric Acid. Retrieved from

https://www.academia.edu/13042431/Sodium_Thiosulphate_in_Hydrochloric_Acid