Title: Rates of Reaction 2

Aim: To determine the effect of the temperature of sodium thiosulphate on

the rate of reaction by measuring the time required for the formation of
a precipitate.
Apparatus: A measuring cylinder, two boiling tubes, a 5ml pipette, a sheet of paper,
a 100ml beaker, six water baths, a marker (or pen), a thermometer and a
timer
Reagents: 0.05M Sodium thiosulphate solution and 1M hydrochloric acid
Method: (a) Using a measuring cylinder, measure 50cm3 of 0.05M sodium
thiosulphate solution and place the measured volume of sodium
thiosulphate into a boiling tube.
(b) Pipette 5 cm3 of 1.0M hydrochloric acid and transfer this to
another boiling tube.
(c) Place both test tubes in a water bath at room temperature
(measure and record the temperature).
(d) Draw a large “X” on a sheet of paper using a marker. Place a
100ml beaker over the “X”.
(e) Pour the contents of both boiling tubes into the beaker and start
the stopwatch immediately.
(e) When the “X” on the paper can no longer be seen from above the
beaker, stop the timer.
(f) Rinse the beaker and repeat the experiment using the
temperatures given in Table 1 below.

Table 1: THE EFFECT OF THE TEMPERATURE OF THE REACTANTS ON THE REACTION RATE

Number of trials Temperature Time taken for Rate (1/t)/s-1

/0C disappearance of
“X”(t)/ s
1 30
2 40
3 50
4 60
5 70
6 80

Observations: Record relevant observations

Treatment of results: (a) Plot the following graphs:

 (i) Temperature of reagents vs time
(ii) Temperature of reagents vs Reaction rate

Discussion questions: (a) Define the term “reaction rate”.

(b) With the aid of an equation, explain why the “X” drawn on the
paper was obscured when sodium thiosulphate was combined
with hydrochloric acid.
(c) Account for the shape of the graphs drawn.

Sources of error: State at least one factor which could lead to inaccurate results (Do not
write factors arising from obvious carelessness, eg, failure to properly
label flasks, pipetting the wrong solution, etc.)

Precautions: State precautions which were observed during the experiment

Conclusion: A brief statement related to your aim. (Was your aim met? If so, what
was the result?)