FACTORS AFFECTING THE RATE OF CHEMICAL REACTIONS

From experience, you know that meat will spoil at room temperature but will
remain unspoiled for a loner period in a freezer. Can you explain why? The spoiling
of meat involves a chemical reaction. In the case of the meat in a freezer, what factor
do you think affects the rate of reaction?
In this part of the lesson, you will come to learn that chemical reactions may
be hastened of slowed down by manipulating three reaction variables- temperature,
concentration, and particle size- and introducing a reaction catalyst or inhibitor.
a. Temperature
All reaction rates increase with an increase in temperature. This happens
because the kinetic energies of the reactants increase with a rise in temperature.
 An increase in the temperature of a reaction always causes the reactant particles to
move more rapidly.
 Heating allows the reactant particles to move frequently, which raises the chance for
successful collisions and thus, speed up the reaction.

Let us consider the reaction of hydrogen gas and nitrogen gas to form ammonia gas.
 At room temperature, the rate of the reaction is so slow that no detectable reaction
occurs, even in the presence of an iron catalyst.
 Heating the reaction system to about 425°C will hasten the reaction.

 A decrease in temperature slows down the rate of a reaction. Milk turns sour much
more slowly in the refrigerator than it does at room temperature. Many foods are kept
fresh for months in the freezer.

DID YOU KNOW?

Normal body temperature is about 37°C. The chemical reactions in our body take place at this
temperature. Athletes frequently get injured. The biochemical reactions that cause the inflammation of
tissues can be slowed down by applying a cold compress on the injured area.

At this point, you will be tasked to answer this!

Practice Problem 2:
A thermal explosion occurs when an exothermic reaction proceeds at such a
rate that the heat produced cannot be conducted away from the burning mixture quickly
enough. Explain how an explosion results in such a situation.

b. Concentration
According to the collision theory, there must be collision between reacting
particles so that a reaction can occur.
 Concentration refers to the number of particles of a substance in given volume.
 When particle concentration increases, the frequency of collisions is increased and the
reaction speeds up.
 For example, a lighted splinter of wood will bum much more vigorously in pure
oxygen than in air, which has only about 21 percent of oxygen.

 Furthermore, when one teaspoon of baking soda is added to each of the three
solutions containing 10 percent, 40 percent, and 70 percent of vinegar in water, the
formation of bubbles will be greatest in the 70 percent solution.
 The reaction is fastest in this solution because it contains the highest number of
colliding particles.

c. Particle Size
Making the particle size of the substance smaller increases the surface area
exposed which consequently results in an increase in contact area between substances.
 When solid reactants are present in very small pieces, reaction rates can increase
considerably.
 The tinier pieces have higher overall surface area so they encourage more contact
between the reactants and thus effect more collisions.
 For example, a piece of coal does not ignite very easily, but coal dust ignites
explosively, a reaction that has led to many mining accidents.
c. Presence of Catalyst
A catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of a reaction without being
used up in the process.
 In a chemical equation, the catalyst is indicated over the arrow since it does not affect
the overall stoichiometry of the reaction.
 The decomposition of KCIO3 utilizes MnO2 as a catalyst.

 In a catalyzed reaction, the catalyst is actually consumed in one step and regenerated
in a subsequent step; thus it is used over and over again without undergoing any
permanent change.
 It functions by opening an alternative path by which a reaction can proceed, and the
mechanism of the catalyzed reaction is different from that of the uncatalyzed reaction.
 The catalyzed path has a lower activation energy than the uncatalyzed path, which
accounts for more rapid reaction.
 When a catalyst is used, more molecules possess the energy required for a successful
collision.
 Thus, of the total number of collisions per unit time, the fraction that results in a
successful reaction is increased.

What processes essential to life involve the use of

catalyst ?
 Many biological processes involve natural catalysts known as
Examples:
 Salivary amylase, an enzyme in the mouth, causes starch to be broken down into
simpler substances even before reaching our stomach.
 Enzymes also catalyze life processes such as respiration and cell synthesis.

 Catalysts also find application in efficient transportation systems.

- Carbon monoxide (CO) and nitric oxide (NO), toxic gases present in
engine exhausts, are converted to carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen gas
(N2) by passing them over the catalysts palladium (Pd) and rhodium (Rh)
in catalytic converters.

 Palladium and rhodium are very expensive, but only small amounts are needed in
converters Led-free gasoline must be used in cars fitted with catalytic converters
because lead inactivates the catalysts. About 96 percent of CO, 98 percent of
hydrocarbons (HC), and 95 percent of NO from auto exhausts are removed by
catalytic converters less toxic products.

For the last exercise for this topic, explain the following phenomena:
Practice Exercise 3
1. A spark can cause coal dust in a mine to explode and yet not cause an explosion with
charcoal in a barbeque grill.
2. Milk will turn sour in one or two days when left at room temperature and yet can
remain unspoiled for two weeks when refrigerated.
3. Charcoal will burn faster when you blow on the coals, yet burn slowly when left
undisturbed.
 You have understood in a deeper manner the meaning of a catalyst and how does it
affect chemical reaction, now, can you reflect on the statement below about a
catalyst?
"Be with people, who play the role of positive catalyst in the
process of your improvement."-Subochi Sheikh
Practice Exercise Answer Key:
Practice Exercise 1.
1. fast
2. fast
3. slow
4. slow
5. slow
Practice Exercise 2.
In combustion, energy is released which may be in the form of heat. This heat,
if not conducted away from the burning mixture, will cause an increase in temperature
of the mixture, thus increasing the rate of burning. The combustion therefore proceeds
in an ever-increasing rate and results in an explosion.
Practice Exercise 3
1. Though coal dust particles are small in terms of size, they have a greater surface area
compared to charcoal in a barbeque grill. The larger total surface area of coal dust
increases the rate of combustion.
2. Decrease in temperature results in a slow reaction rate. Refrigerated milk can remain
unspoiled for two weeks since the low temperature slows down the spoiling process.
3. Charcoal burns because it reacts with the oxygen in air. Blowing air into the coals
increases the concentration of oxygen, making the burning of charcoal faster.