The Rate of a

Reaction
By: Ms. Diana Jane Cacao
What does rate of reaction
mean?
• The rate of chemical reaction is a measure of the quantity of products
produced per unit time or the amount of reactant reacted/ consumed
per unit time.

The rate of a reaction is a measure of how quickly a reactant is used up, or

a product is formed.

The greater the frequency of successful collisions between reactant particles, the
greater the reaction rate.
Collision theory
• For a chemical reaction to happen:
• reactant particles must collide with each other the particles must
have enough energy for them to react
• A collision that produces a reaction is called a successful collision.
The activation energy is the minimum amount of energy needed for a
collision to be successful. It is different for different reactions.
The speed of different chemical reactions varies hugely. Some reactions are very
fast and others are very slow.
The speed of a reaction is called the rate of the reaction.
What is the rate of these reactions?

slow fast very fast

Why are some reactions faster than others?
Reactions, particles and
collisions
Reactions take place when particles collide with a certain amount of energy.

The minimum amount of energy needed for the particles to react is called the
activation energy, and is different for each reaction.

The rate of a reaction depends on two things:

 the frequency of collisions between particles

 the energy with which particles collide.

If particles collide with less energy than the activation energy, they will not react. The
particles will just bounce off each other.
 reactants
product

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

 Measuring mass
The change in mass of a reactant or product can be
followed during a reaction. This method is useful when
carbon dioxide is a product which leaves the reaction
container. It is not suitable for hydrogen and other gases
with a small relative formula mass, Mr.
The units for rate are usually g/s or g/min.

Measuring volume
The change in volume of a reactant or product can be
followed during a reaction. This method is useful when a
gas leaves the reaction container. The volume of a gas is
measured using a gas syringe, or an upside
down burette or measuring cylinder.
The units for rate are usually cm3 s-1 or cm3 min-1.
Rates, concentration and pressure

The greater the frequency of successful collisions, the

greater the rate of reaction. If the concentration of a
reacting solution or the pressure of a reacting gas is
increased:
•the reactant particles become more crowded
•the frequency of collisions between reactant
particles increases
•the rate of reaction increases
Calculating the rate of reaction from the gradient of a tangent

Rate of reaction = 12 cm3 s - 1

• How does temperature affect the rate of particle collision?
Rates and temperature

The greater the frequency of successful collisions, the greater the

rate of reaction. If the temperature of the reaction mixture is
increased:

•reactantparticles move more quickly

•the energy of the particles increases
•the frequency of successful collisions between reactant particles
increases
•the proportion of collisions which are successful increases
•the rate of reaction increases
Effect of concentration on rate of reaction

QUESTION:
Why does increased concentration increase the rate of
reaction?

lower concentration higher concentration

Effect of pressure on rate of reaction

QUESTION:
Why does increasing the pressure of gaseous reactants
increase the rate of reaction?

lower pressure higher pressure

Effect of surface area on rate of reaction

QUESTION:
How surface are affects the reaction rate?

low surface area high surface area

 Question:
Explain what is meant by a 'successful' collision.
 Catalysts
A catalyst is a substance that:
•speeds up the rate of a
reaction

•does not alter the products of

the reaction

•is not chemically changed or

used up at the end of the
reaction