Reaction Rates: What Is Reaction Rate?

REACTION RATES
What is reaction rate?
The rate of a reaction is the speed at which a chemical reaction happens. If a
reaction has a low rate, that means the molecules combine at a slower speed than a
reaction with a high rate. Some reactions take hundreds, maybe even thousands, of
years while others can happen in less than one second. If you want to think of a very
slow reaction, think about how long it takes plants and ancient fish to become fossils
(carbonization). The rate of reaction also depends on the type of molecules that are
combining. If there are low concentrations of an essential element or compound, the
reaction will be slower.
Factors That Affect Rate
Reactions happen - no matter what. Chemicals are
always combining or breaking down. The reactions
happen over and over, but not always at the same
speed. A few things affect the overall speed of the
reaction and the number of collisions that can occur.
Temperature: When you raise the temperature of a system, the molecules
bounce around a lot more. They have more energy. When they bounce around
more, they are more likely to collide. That fact means they are also more likely to
combine. When you lower the temperature, the molecules are slower and collide
less. That temperature drop lowers the rate of the reaction. Sometimes you will
mix solutions in ice so that the temperature of the system stays cold and the rate
of reaction is slower.
Chemical reactions typically occur faster at higher temperatures. Food can
spoil quickly when left on the kitchen counter. However, the lower temperature
inside of a refrigerator slows that process so that the same food remains fresh for
days. We use a burner or a hot plate in the laboratory to increase the speed of
reactions that proceed slowly at ordinary temperatures. In many cases, an
increase in temperature of only 10 °C will approximately double the rate of a
reaction in a homogeneous system.
Concentration: If there is more of a substance in a system, there is a greater
chance that molecules will collide and speed up the rate of the reaction. If there
is less of something, there will be fewer collisions and the reaction will probably
happen at a slower speed. Sometimes, when you are in a chemistry lab, you will
add one solution to another. When you want the rate of reaction to be slower,
you will add only a few drops at a time instead of the entire beaker.
Rates usually increase when the concentration of one or more of the
reactants increases. For example, calcium carbonate (CaCO 3) deteriorates as a
result of its reaction with the pollutant sulfur dioxide. The rate of this reaction
depends on the amount of sulfur dioxide in the air.

An acidic oxide, sulfur dioxide combines with water vapor in the air to
produce sulfurous acid in the following reaction:
SO2(g)+H2O(g)⟶H2SO3(aq)SO2(g)+H2O(g)⟶H2SO3(aq)
Calcium carbonate reacts with sulfurous acid as follows:
CaCO3(s)+H2SO3(aq)⟶CaSO3(aq)+CO2(g)+H2O(l)
In a polluted atmosphere where the concentration of sulfur dioxide is high,
calcium carbonate deteriorates more rapidly than in less polluted air. Similarly,
phosphorus burns much more rapidly in an atmosphere of pure oxygen than in
air, which is only about 20% oxygen.
Pressure: Pressure: Pressure affects the rate of reaction, especially when you
look at gases. When you increase the pressure, the molecules have less space
in which they can move. That greater density of molecules increases the number
of collisions. When you decrease the pressure, molecules don't hit each other as
often and the rate of reaction decreases.
Pressure is also related to concentration and volume. By decreasing the
volume available to the molecules of gas, you are increasing the concentration of
molecules in a specific space. You should also remember that changing the
pressure of a system only works well for gases. Generally, reaction rates for
solids and liquids remain unaffected by increases in pressure.

References
Andrew Studios (2018). Reactions – Rate of Reaction. Retrieved from

https://www.chem4kids.com/files/react_rates.html
Boundless Learning (n.d.). Boundless Chemistry. Retrieved from

https://www.boundless.com/
Laidler (2020). Reaction Rates – Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from

https://www.britannica.com/science/reaction-rate
Rice University (n.d.). Chemical Reaction Rates – Chemistry. Retrieved from

https://opentextbc.ca/chemistry/chapter/12-2-factors-affecting-reaction-rates/
University of Birmingham (2020). Chemistry – Rates of Reaction. Retrieved from

https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/teachers/study-resources/stem/chemistry/reaction
rates.aspx

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REACTION RATES

What is reaction rate?

The rate of a reaction is the speed at which a chemical reaction happens. If a

combining. If there are low concentrations of an essential element or compound, the

reaction will be slower.

Factors That Affect Rate

Reactions happen - no matter what. Chemicals are

always combining or breaking down. The reactions

happen over and over, but not always at the same

speed. A few things affect the overall speed of the

reaction and the number of collisions that can occur.

Temperature: When you raise the temperature of a system, the molecules

Chemical reactions typically occur faster at higher temperatures. Food can

reactions that proceed slowly at ordinary temperatures. In many cases, an

increase in temperature of only 10 °C will approximately double the rate of a

reaction in a homogeneous system.

Concentration: If there is more of a substance in a system, there is a greater

Rates usually increase when the concentration of one or more of the

reactants increases. For example, calcium carbonate (CaCO 3) deteriorates as a

depends on the amount of sulfur dioxide in the air.

produce sulfurous acid in the following reaction:

Calcium carbonate reacts with sulfurous acid as follows:

In a polluted atmosphere where the concentration of sulfur dioxide is high,

phosphorus burns much more rapidly in an atmosphere of pure oxygen than in

air, which is only about 20% oxygen.

Pressure: Pressure: Pressure affects the rate of reaction, especially when you

often and the rate of reaction decreases.

Pressure is also related to concentration and volume. By decreasing the

solids and liquids remain unaffected by increases in pressure.

Andrew Studios (2018). Reactions – Rate of Reaction. Retrieved from

Boundless Learning (n.d.). Boundless Chemistry. Retrieved from

Laidler (2020). Reaction Rates – Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from

Rice University (n.d.). Chemical Reaction Rates – Chemistry. Retrieved from

University of Birmingham (2020). Chemistry – Rates of Reaction. Retrieved from

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