Rate of Reaction

We are trying to find out if temperature affects the rate of reaction between Hydrochloric acid and Magnesium.

I think that the higher the temperature of the acid rises, the rate of reaction will increase.

For example: If I double or triple the reaction, the rate of reaction will also double or triple.

As the liquid particles bash into the solid they may knock of a solid particle. This collision would therefore cause a reaction. Liquid particles need to hit the solid particles if they are to have any chance of breaking the bonds between the solid particles.

* Keep the volume of acid the same throughout the entire experiment (20 cmІ)

* Keep the length of the magnesium the same throughout the entire experiment. (3cm)

* Always use the same concentration of acid (1 Molar)

* Hydrochloric acid (1 Molar)

* Magnesium ribbon

* Scissors

* Flask

* Measuring cylinder

* Bunsen Burner

* Tripod, Gauze + Heatproof Mat

* Thermometer

* Stopwatch

* Splint

* Goggles

* Wire Gauze

1. You set up the experiment as shown above.

2. Measure the correct amount of acid (20cmІ)

3. Put it in the flask.

4. Heat the acid (without the magnesium) to the right temperature.

5. Once you have reached the right temperature(s) take the flask of the wire gauze and put the magnesium into the acid.

6. Time how long it takes for the magnesium to completely finish reacting with the acid and put it into your results.

* Wear goggles.

* Don't touch anything that has just been heated.

* Stand up and put stuff like books and pencil cases away.

* Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water if you have spilt acid on your skin.

I have learnt about the collision theory before we did the experiment.

This is what I have learnt about the collision theory:

The theory that we use to explain how different variables change the rate of reaction is called the collision theory.

For a reaction to take place, the particles of the substances that are reacting have to collide. If they collide, with enough energy then they will react. The minimum amount of kinetic (movement) energy that two particles need if they are going to react when they collide is called the activation energy.

There are therefore two main ways of increasing the rate of a reaction:

1) increase the number of collisions

2) increase the amount of movement (kinetic) energy so that more collisions lead to a reaction

I have done some work on the 'surface area collision theory', I did the following experiment:

We can investigate the effect of surface area on reaction rate by looking at the reaction between marble chips and dilute hydrochloric acid:

CaCO3(s) + 2 HCl(aq) CaCl2(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)

We can use two sets of marble chips: 5 g of marble sticks and 5 g of marble powder. To measure the rate of reaction, we can monitor the loss in mass as the carbon dioxide gas escapes from the flask.

Look at the experiment below:

This has helped me in the understanding of my present experiment because it gave me practice on how to take the temperature and helped me on how to accurately record the times of the experiment.

Obtaining Evidence and Analysis

Time Taken (seconds)

Temp (oC) Attempt 1 Attempt