Reaction rate

Grade 12
2024
 What you must be able to do
• Define reaction rate
• Calculate reaction rate from given data
• List the factors that affect the rate of chemical reactions
• Explain in terms of the collision theory how the various factor affect the rate of
chemical reactions
• Answer questions and interpret data (tables or graphs) on different experimental
techniques for measuring the rate of a given reaction.
• Define the term positive catalyst
• Interpret graphs of distribution of molecular energies (number of particles against
their kinetic energy or Maxwell-Boltzmann curves) to explain how a catalyst,
temperature and concentration affect rate.
What you have done
Exothermic reactions
(reactions that release energy).
Endothermic reactions
(reactions that absorb energy).
Kinetic energy
(the energy an object possesses as a result of its motion).
Bond Energy
(the energy needed to break one mole of its molecules into separate atoms).
Bond Length
(the average distance between the nuclei of two bonded atoms).
Activation energy
(the minimum energy needed for a reaction to take place).
 ENERGY AND CHANGE
• Energy changes in reactions related to bond energy
changes
• Definitions
• 1. Heat of reaction (ΔH) is the energy absorbed or
released in a chemical reaction.
• 2. Exothermic reactions is reactions that release
energy
• 3. Endothermic reactions is reactions that absorb
energy.
Graphic representation of energy and
change
Classify (with reason) reactions as exothermic or endothermic.
• Exothermic and endothermic reactions
• State that ΔH > 0 for endothermic reactions, i.e. reactions in which
energy is absorbed
State that ΔH < 0 for exothermic reactions, i.e. reactions in which energy is released.
Activation energy

• Activation energy is the minimum energy needed for a

reaction to take place.
• An activated complex is the unstable transition state from
reactants to products
Endothermic and exothermic reactions
• EXOTHERMIC REACTIONS
• More energy is released when the
new bonds form than is absorbed
when the existing bonds break.
• Ereactants > Eproducts
• ∆H is negative ∆H < 0
• ∆H = Eproducts – Ereactants < 0
• Net energy is released to the
surroundings in the form of heat.
• The temperature of the reaction
mixture increases.
• ENDOTHERMIC REACTIONS
• More energy is absorbed when the
existing bonds break than is
released when the new bonds form.
• Ereactants < Eproducts
• ∆H is positive ∆H > 0
• ∆H = Eproducts – Ereactants > 0
• Net energy is absorbed from the
surroundings in the form of heat.
• The temperature of the reaction
mixture decreases
A: reactants (for the forward reaction) / products (for the reverse reaction) B: products (for the forward reaction) /
reactants (for the reverse reaction)
C: activated complex (without a catalyst) D: activated complex (with a catalyst)
E: activation energy for the forward reaction (without a catalyst) F: activation energy of the forward reaction (with a
catalyst)
G: activation energy of the reverse reaction (without acatalyst) H: activation energy of the reverse reaction (with a catalyst)
•Draw or interpret fully labelled sketch graphs (potential
energy vs. course of reaction) of catalysed and uncatalysed
endothermic and exothermic reactions
Rate and Extent of Reaction
• Definition
Reaction rate is the change in concentration of reactants or products
per unit time.
Rate = (Unit: mol∙dm-3∙s-1)
- Change in concentration of products/reactants per (unit) time. e
(mol·dm−3 ·s−1 )
- Change in amount/number of moles/volume/mass of products or
reactants per (unit) time. (g·s−1 )
- Rate of change in concentration/amount/number of
moles/volume/mass. (dm3 ·s−1 ).
Amount/number of moles/volume/mass of products
formed/reactants used per (unit) time.
We are interested in checking how fast/slow did the change occurred.
The change may be measured by mass, volume and concentration.
The gradient of a concentration / mass / volume versus time graph
gives the rate of a reaction, thus a steeper gradient means a higher rate
of reaction.
Reaction rate can be calculated as follows;
Rate = units (mol·dm−3 ·s−1 )
Rate = units (mol.s-1)
Rate = units (g·s−1 )
Rate = units (dm3 ·s−1 ). Or cm3.s-1

Rate = (mol·dm−3 ·s−1 )

Other measurements that can be used are
- Change in pressure
- Change in colour
- Change in pH
- Change in conductivity of electricity when
there is a change in ion concentrations
COLLISION THEORY
 In order for a reaction to occur, molecules need to collide under
specific conditions.
the conditions for successful collisions are:
1. PARTICLES MUST COLLIDE WITH CORRECT ORIENTATION
 The structure of the molecules and their relative orientations to each
other is important for effective collisions.
 Some catalysts function by improving molecular orientation
2. PARTICLES MUST COLLIDE WITH SUFFICIENT ENERGY
 The molecules have to collide with sufficient amount of energy for
bonds to break and the reaction to occur (activation energy).
MAXWELL-BOLTZMAN DISTRIBUTION CURVE
 The Maxwell-Boltzman distribution curve shows the distribution of
the kinetic energy of molecules.
 The area under the graph to the right of the activation energy line
represents the particles with sufficient kinetic energy
The gradient of a concentration/mass/volume versus time graph gives the rate
of a reaction, thus a steeper gradient means a higher rate of reaction.
Consider the hypothetical reaction: A + B → C + D
Graph of concentration of reactant A with time

QUESTION 1: Calculate the average rate during the first 70 s

FACTORS INFLUENCING REACTION RATE
1. STATE OF DIVISION / SURFACE AREA
 Its applies when one of the reactants is a solid
 Surface area refers to the total number of reactive sites exposed for the reaction to occur.
 The reactive site exposed is in line with correct orientation of reactants for enhancing
effective collision
 Increase state of division (powder instead of chunks) increases rate of reaction by increasing
effective orientations and surface area.
 There will be more effective collisions per unit time
 Hence, the rate of reaction increases.
 surface area
The reaction rate increases with an increase in the surface area of the
reactants.
The explanation
Increasing the surface area of the reactants results in more reaction sites.
(Reaction sites - specific sites on molecules at which reactions occur).
Increasing the number of reaction sites increases the frequency of total
collisions.
More particles with sufficient kinetic energy, that is greater or equal to
activation energy
More effective collisions per unit time will occur which will increase the
reaction rate.
Example
The most effective way of increasing the surface area of a solid is to grind the
solid into a powder.
According to collision theory
When a solid reactant is more finely divided
There is greater surface area for collisions to occur
More effective collisions occur per time unit
Rate of reaction increases
2 . PRESSURE (Its applicable to gases only)
 In physics pressure is defined as the force per unit area.
 Increase pressure by decreasing volume, increases the
concentration of the gas thus increasing the rate of reaction
 According to collision theory: If the pressure in a system is
increased; the distance between the particles decreases, resulting in
the increase of the number of particles with the correct orientation.
 The number of effective collisions increases, hence the rate of
reaction increases.
 Also, if the pressure in a system is decreased; the distance between
the particles increases, resulting in the decrease of the number of
particles with the correct orientation.
 The number of effective collisions decreases, hence the rate of
reaction decreases.
3. CONCENTRATION Its applicable to gases and solutions only
 Concentration is defined as the number of particles per unit volume.
 The greater the concentration, the more particles are confined in a smaller
space.
 This leads to more collisions, and subsequently more effective collisions.
 According to collision theory: If the concentration of reactants is increased;
the number of particles per unit volume increases, resulting in the increase of
the number of particles with the correct orientation.
 The number of effective collisions per unit time increases.
 Hence, the rate of reaction will increase.
 Also, if the concentration of reactants is decreased; the number of particles
per unit volume decreases, resulting in reduction of particles with the correct
orientation.
 The number of effective collisions per unit time decreases.
 Hence, the rate of reaction will decrease.
According to the collision theory
With an increase in reactant concentration
More collisions occur due to more particles per unit volume in the
container
More particles have Ek Ea
More effective collisions occur per time unit
The rate of reaction increases
4. TEMPERATURE
 Temperature is the measure of the average kinetic energy of
molecules.
 When the temperature is increased, more particles have sufficient
energy to overcome the activation energy.
 And more effective collisions can take place per unit time.
 Hence the rate of reaction increases.
At a higher temperature particles move faster/have a higher kinetic
energy.
 More molecules have enough/sufficient (kinetic) energy.
 More effective collisions per unit time/second./Increased
frequency of effective collisions.
 Reaction rate increases
According to the collision theory
If the temperature of a reaction mixture is increased
The speed of the particles increases
The average Ek of the particles increases
More particles have Ek Ea
There are more collisions and more effective collisions per time unit
The rate of reaction increases
# At a higher temperature particles move faster/have a higher kinetic energy. 
1• More molecules have enough/sufficient (kinetic) energy. 
• Reaction rate increases. OR More molecules have (kinetic) energy equal to or
greater than activation energy.
• More effective collisions per unit time/second./Increased frequency of
effective collisions.
• Reaction rate increases. 
2• At higher temperature the average kinetic energy of particles is
higher. 
• More molecules gain sufficient/enough kinetic energy OR more
molecules have kinetic energy equal to or greater than the activation
energy. 
• More effective collisions per unit time./Frequency of effective
collisions increases.
5. CATALYST
 A positive catalyst is a chemical substance that increases the rate
of chemical reaction without itself undergoing permanent change.
 The presence of a catalyst decreases the activation energy.
 The particles require less collision energy to undergo an effective
collision.
 Leading to more effective collisions.
 Hence the rate of reaction increases.
Curve Y/it was obtained for the reaction where a catalyst was added.
 Speeds up the reaction.
 Increases the reaction rate.
 Provides alternate pathway.
 Lowers the (net) activation energy.
 It does not change the heat energy
According to the collision theory
If a catalyst is used during a reaction
The activation energy Ea is lower
(a lower Ek of particles is required for the reaction to take place)
More particles have Ek Ea
There is a greater chance of effective collision occurring
More effective collisions per time unit increase the reaction
#A catalyst provides an alternative pathway of lower activation energy. 
• More molecules have sufficient / enough kinetic energy.
OR More molecules have kinetic energy equal to or greater than the activation
energy.
• More effective collisions per unit time. / Frequency of effective collisions
increases. 
6. NATURE OF REACTANTS
 The physical and chemical properties of certain molecules make
them more likely to react.
 FOR EXAMPLE:
o O2 has many effective orientations
o F’s electronegativity makes it more reactive
o Tertiary alcohols have limited effective orientations due to
molecule structure
NATURE OF REACTANTS
The rate of a chemical reaction depends on:
the medium in which the reaction occurs (liquid or gas);
the properties of the reactants.
The rate of a reaction may differ depending whether the medium
is aqueous or organic; polar or nonpolar; or liquid, solid, or
gaseous
The reactions in which ionic and polar solutions are involved also
take place at a high rate.
Maxwell-Boltzman Distribution Curves
TEMPERATURES
CONCENTRATIONS
Addition of catalysts
GRAPH OF CONCENTRATIONVS TIME
GRAPH REACTANTS
GRAPH OF CONCENTRATIONVS TIME
GRAPH PRODUCTS
1. The rate is not a constant throughout the reaction - it
changes!
2. The reaction is fastest at the start, gradually
becoming slower as the reaction proceeds.
3. From the graph, the fastest part of the reaction is
shown by the steepest curve.
4. The curve on the graph goes flat when the reaction is
complete. This is because, as time goes on the volume
Effect of a catalyst
Adding Catatlyst