What is rate of reaction?

• Rate of reaction is the

speed at which reactants
are converted into the
products in a chemical
reaction.
• If the reaction is fast
• The time taken is
short
• The rate of reaction
is high
 Examples :
• Fireworks

• Burning of match
• If the reaction is slow
• The time taken is long
• The rate of reaction is
low
 Examples :
• Photosynthesis

• Rusting
 Observable changes for measuring
the rate of reaction

• When a reaction occurs, two

obvious changes that occur are :
 the decrease in the quantity of a
reactant with time.
the increase in the quantity of a
product with time.
Suitable measurable visible changes
in a chemical reaction are :

• Volume of a gas liberated

• Precipitate formation
• Changes in mass during the reaction
• Colour changes
• Temperature changes
• Pressure changes
• Rate of reaction is measured by :

Rate of reaction
= change in selected quantity
time taken
• Rate of reaction can be measured
in two ways :
–Average rate of reaction
–Rate of reaction at a given time/
Instantaneous rate of reaction.
• Average rate of reaction is the
average value of the rate of reaction
within a specified period of time.

• Rate of reaction at a given time is

the actual rate of reaction that
instant.