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EXPERIMENT
Rate of Reactions

I. OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of this activity, the student should be able to:
1. To investigate the relationship between the rate and the nature of reactants.
2. To investigate the effect of surface area on the rate of reaction.

II. BACKGROUND:
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III. LIST OF MATERIALS AND CHEMICALS NEEDED:

Solution HCl Small iron nails
Solution HNO3 Marble chips
Solution H3PO4 Sandpaper
Solution CH3COOH Mortar and Pestle
Distilled Water Test tubes and test tube rack
Magnesium Ribbon 5-mL glass pipette

IV. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS:

Always wear laboratory gown, gloves, and safety goggles when working in the laboratory. Wash any
acid spill thoroughly with water for at least 15 min.

Caution!
Nitric Acid is a corrosive substance. Contact with skin and eyes can cause severe skin burns and
eye damage. Wear chemical-resistant gloves when handling.

Caution!
Hydrochloric acid is a corrosive substance. Contact with skin and eyes can cause severe
skin burns and eye damage. Wear chemical-resistant gloves when handling.
Concentrated hydrochloric acid produces fumes.
Handle concentrated hydrochloric acid in a fume hood.

V. WASTE DISPOSAL:
• Acids should be disposed in proper waste container.
• Solid wastes must be thrown to the appropriate garbage bins.
• Broken glassware and other sharp objects must be brought to the attention of the
instructor or laboratory attendant. Sharps are disposed of in a separate garbage bin.
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VI. PROCEDURE:

A. Nature of reactants.
Part 1
1. Label five test tubes 1 through 6.
2. Add 2 mL of acid to each 10-ml test tube as follows: no. 1) 3 M H2SO4; no. 2) 6 M HCl; no. 3)
6 M HNO3; no. 4) 2 M H3PO4; no. 5) 6 M CH3COOH and no.6) distilled water (control).
3. Place in each test tube one 1-cm polished strip of magnesium ribbon. Use the sandpaper to
scrub away the rust and other signs of oxidation from the magnesium ribbon.
4. The reaction will convert the magnesium ribbon to the corresponding salts with the liberation
of hydrogen gas. You can assess the rate of reaction qualitatively, by observing the speed with
which the gas is liberated (bubbling) and/or by noticing the time of disappearance of the
magnesium ribbon.
5. Do all of the reactions in the five test tubes at the same time; assess the rates of reaction; then
list, in decreasing order, the rates of reaction of magnesium with the various acids on your
Report Sheet (A1).

Part 2
6. Place 2 mL 6 M HCl in two 10-ml test tubes numbered 1 and 2.
7. Use the sandpaper to scrub away the rust and other signs of oxidation from the iron nails. Make
sure that the nail is completely shiny. Do the same for the magnesium ribbon.
8. Add 1-cm polished strips of magnesium ribbon to test tube no. 1 and a small nail to test tube
no. 2. Be careful so as not to scratch the inside surface of the tube.
9. Do all of the reactions in the test tubes at the same time; assess the rates of reaction of the
metals by the speed of evolution of H2 gas; then list, in decreasing order, the rates of reaction
of the metals with the acid on your Report Sheet (A2).

B. Surface area.

1. Using a mortar and pestle, crush and pulverize about 0.5 g of marble chips.
2. Place the crushed marble chips into one 20-ml test tube and 0.5 gram of marble chip
chunks into another.
3. Add 2 mL of 6 M HCl to each test tube and note the speed of bubbling of the CO 2 gas.
Record your data on the Report Sheet (B).
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VII. PRE-LAB QUESTIONS (10 pts):

(1 pt)

(1 pt)

(1 pt)

(2 pts)

(2 pts)
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Name/Group No.:
Course/Section:
Date Performed:
Date Submitted:
Experiment No. and Title:

VIII. REPORT SHEET (10 pts):

B. Surface area.
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IX. POST-LAB (10 pts):

Part 1: Experiment Photos

A. Nature of reactants (2 pts)
B. Surface area. (1 pt)
C. PPE (1 pt)

Part 2: Post-Lab Questions (Handwritten in the Lab Notebook)

1. If in the reaction between magnesium and HCl, we would have used 3 M HCl rather than 6 M HCl,
would the rate of reaction increase, decrease, or remain the same? Explain your answer. (2 pts)

2. If in the same reaction we would have used globular chunks of magnesium instead of ribbon (both
having the same weight), would the rate of reaction increase, decrease or remain the same? What would
be affected (if any) by this change? (2 pts)

3. In the PRE-LAB questions, you were asked about the effectiveness of a powdered antacid versus one
available as a pill for the relief of heartburn. Is there anything in this experiment that would support an
answer that a powder might be faster than a pill? (2 pts)

X. REFERENCE:
Landesberg, J. M. (2014). Basic Laboratory Experiments for General, Organic, and Biochemistry (2nd
ed.). Cengage Learning US. https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/books/9781305172135