Factors that Affect Rate of Reaction – Lesson Summary

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Learning Objective

In this lesson we will learn how the rate of a chemical reaction is affected by the following factors: temperature, concentration, pressure, surface area, stirring and catalysts.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this lesson you will be able to:

  • Explain how temperature affects the rate of a chemical reaction.
  • Explain how concentration of solutions affects the rate of a chemical reaction.
  • Explain how pressure of gases affects the rate of a chemical reaction.
  • Explain how surface area of solids and liquids affects the rate of a chemical reaction.
  • Explain how stirring affects the rate of chemical reactions involving heterogeneous mixtures.
  • Explain how catalysts affect the rate of a chemical reaction.

 
factors that affect rate of reaction lesson contents

(Image: Tim, Adobe Stock)

Lesson Topics

1 | Manipulating Reaction Rate

2 | Effect of Temperature on Reaction Rate

3 | Effect of Concentration and Pressure on Reaction Rate

4 | Effect of Surface Area on Reaction Rate

5 | Effect of Stirring on Reaction Rate

6 | Effect of Catalysts on Reaction Rate

7 | Summary

Lesson Summary

  • The rate of a chemical reaction is largely determined by the chemical properties of the reactants, but is also affected by factors that influence either of the following:
  • The frequency of particle collisions.
  • The proportion of particle collisions that are successful.
  • An increase in temperature will lead to an increase in reaction rate.
  • Reactant particles move around more, resulting in a greater frequency of collisions.
  • Reactant particles have more energy, resulting in a greater proportion of collisions with sufficient energy to break bonds.
  • An increase in the concentration of solutions or pressure of gases will lead to an increase in reaction rate.
  • More reactant particles are in a given space, resulting in a greater frequency of collisions.
  • An increase in the surface area of solids or liquids in heterogeneous reaction mixtures will lead to an increase in reaction rate.
  • More reactant particles are exposed to collisions, resulting in a greater frequency of collisions.
  • Stirring of heterogeneous reaction mixtures will lead to an increase in reaction rate.
  • More reactant particles are exposed to collisions, resulting in a greater frequency of collisions.
  • The presence of catalysts will lead to an increase in reaction rate.
  • The energy required to break bonds is lowered, resulting in a greater proportion of collisions with sufficient energy to break bonds.

 
thermite chemical reaction rate

(Image: CaesiumFluoride, Wikimedia Commons)

(Header image: NASA, Wikimedia Commons)