Short Questions on Rate of Reaction
1. Define the rate of reaction.
Answer: The rate of reaction is the speed at which reactants are converted into products. It is
usually expressed as the change in concentration of a reactant or product per unit time.
2. State two factors that affect the rate of reaction.
Answer: Temperature and concentration of reactants are two factors that affect the rate of
reaction.
3. Explain how increasing the surface area of a reactant affects the rate of reaction.
Answer: Increasing the surface area of a reactant increases the rate of reaction because more
particles are exposed to react, leading to more frequent collisions.
4. What is the effect of a catalyst on the rate of reaction?
Answer: A catalyst increases the rate of reaction by providing an alternative pathway with a
lower activation energy, allowing more reactant particles to have enough energy to react.
5. Why does the rate of reaction usually increase with temperature?
Answer: The rate of reaction increases with temperature because higher temperatures give
particles more kinetic energy, leading to more frequent and energetic collisions.
6. Describe an experiment to investigate the effect of concentration on the rate of reaction.
Answer: An experiment could involve reacting hydrochloric acid with magnesium ribbon and
measuring the volume of hydrogen gas produced over time at different acid concentrations.
7. Explain the role of activation energy in a chemical reaction.
Answer: Activation energy is the minimum energy that reactant particles must have for a
reaction to occur. It acts as an energy barrier that must be overcome for the reaction to proceed.
8. What is meant by the term 'rate determining step' in a reaction mechanism?
Answer: The rate determining step is the slowest step in a reaction mechanism, which limits
the overall rate of reaction.
9. How does a decrease in temperature affect the rate of reaction?
Answer: A decrease in temperature slows down the rate of reaction because particles have less
kinetic energy, leading to fewer collisions and less energy per collision.
10. Describe the effect of increasing pressure on the rate of a reaction involving gases.
Answer: Increasing the pressure of a reaction involving gases increases the rate of reaction by
forcing the gas molecules closer together, leading to more frequent collisions.
Do yourself
Explain how increasing the temperature of a reaction affects the rate of reaction.
Describe how catalysts are used to increase the rate of chemical reactions.
Define a catalyst and explain how it works.
Discuss the economic and environmental benefits of using catalysts in chemical processes
Explain the relationship between temperature and the kinetic energy of molecules.
Discuss how increasing temperature affects the number of collisions between reactant
molecules.
