The document describes an experiment to measure the rate of reaction between magnesium and hydrochloric acid. Hydrogen gas is collected over time using a gas syringe. The results show the volume of hydrogen increases quickly at first then more slowly, as the reaction rate decreases. A graph of the data reveals the reaction rate is highest initially when the curve is steepest, and the reaction is complete when the curve becomes flat and horizontal.
The document describes an experiment to measure the rate of reaction between magnesium and hydrochloric acid. Hydrogen gas is collected over time using a gas syringe. The results show the volume of hydrogen increases quickly at first then more slowly, as the reaction rate decreases. A graph of the data reveals the reaction rate is highest initially when the curve is steepest, and the reaction is complete when the curve becomes flat and horizontal.
The document describes an experiment to measure the rate of reaction between magnesium and hydrochloric acid. Hydrogen gas is collected over time using a gas syringe. The results show the volume of hydrogen increases quickly at first then more slowly, as the reaction rate decreases. A graph of the data reveals the reaction rate is highest initially when the curve is steepest, and the reaction is complete when the curve becomes flat and horizontal.
The document describes an experiment to measure the rate of reaction between magnesium and hydrochloric acid. Hydrogen gas is collected over time using a gas syringe. The results show the volume of hydrogen increases quickly at first then more slowly, as the reaction rate decreases. A graph of the data reveals the reaction rate is highest initially when the curve is steepest, and the reaction is complete when the curve becomes flat and horizontal.
A reaction that produces a gas The rate of a reaction is found by measuring the amount of a reactant used up per unit of time, or the amount of a product produced per unit of time. Look at this reaction: magnesium 1 hydrochloric acid magnesium chloride 1 hydrogen Mg (s) 1 2HCl (aq) MgCl2 (aq) 1 H2 (g) Here hydrogen is the easiest substance to measure, because it is the only gas in the reaction. It bubbles off and can be collected in a gas syringe, where its volume is measured.
The experiment Testing an explosive substance. The the plunger can move out rate of a fast reaction like this, giving a mix of gases, is not easy to measure. gas syringe stopclock
excess dilute hydrochloric acid magnesium
Clean the magnesium with sandpaper. Put dilute hydrochloric acid in the flask. Drop the magnesium into the flask, and insert the stopper and syringe immediately. Start the clock at the same time.
Hydrogen begins to bubble off. It rises up the flask and into the gas syringe, pushing the plunger out:
At the start, no gas has yet been Now the plunger has been pushed produced or collected. So the out to the 20 cm3 mark. 20 cm3 of plunger is all the way in. gas have been collected.
The volume of gas in the syringe is noted at intervals – for example every half a minute. How will you know when the reaction is complete?
This table shows some typical results for the experiment.
You can tell quite a lot from this table. For example, you can see that the reaction lasted about five minutes. But a graph of the results is even more helpful. The graph is shown on the next page.
132 The speed of a reaction
A graph of the results
Volume of hydrogen /cm3
40
30
20 The reaction between magnesium
and dilute hydrochloric acid
10
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Time / minutes
Notice these things about the results:
1 In the first minute, 14 cm3 of hydrogen are produced. So the rate for the first minute is 14 cm3 of hydrogen per minute. In the second minute, only 11 cm3 are produced. (25 2 14 5 11) So the rate for the second minute is 11 cm3 of hydrogen per minute. The rate for the third minute is 8 cm3 of hydrogen per minute. So the rate decreases as time goes on. The rate changes all through the reaction. It is greatest at the start, but decreases as the reaction proceeds. 2 The reaction is fastest in the first minute, and the curve is steepest curve flat, then. It gets less steep as the reaction gets slower. reaction over The faster the reaction, the steeper the curve. curve less steep, reaction slower 3 After 5 minutes, no more hydrogen is produced, so the volume no longer changes. The reaction is over, and the curve goes flat. When the reaction is over, the curve goes flat. curve steepest, reaction fastest 4 Altogether, 40 cm3 of hydrogen are produced in 5 minutes. total volume of hydrogen The average rate for the reaction 5 _________________________
total time for the reaction
40 cm 3 5 __________ 5 minutes 5 8 cm3 of hydrogen per minute. Note that this method can be used for any reaction where one product is a gas.
Q 1 For the experiment in this unit, explain why: 3 Look again at the graph at the top of the page. a the magnesium ribbon is cleaned first a How much hydrogen is produced in the first: b the clock is started the moment the reactants are mixed i 2.5 minutes? ii 4.5 minutes? c the stopper is replaced immediately b How long did it take to get 20 cm3 of hydrogen? 2 From the graph at the top of this page, how can you tell c What is the rate of the reaction during: when the reaction is over? i the fourth minute? ii the sixth minute?
