6.2.2

Factors Affecting Rate of Reaction

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Rate of Reaction - Key Factors

The main factors that affect the rate of chemical reactions are:

Illustrative background for Concentration of dissolved reactantsIllustrative background for Concentration of dissolved reactants ?? "content

Concentration of dissolved reactants

  • Increasing the concentration increases the frequency (number) of collisions. This increases the rate of reaction.
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Pressure of gas reactants

  • Increasing pressure is like increasing the concentration.
  • It increases the frequency (number) of collisions. This increases the rate of reaction (makes the reaction faster).
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Temperature

  • Increasing the temperature increases the frequency (number) of collisions.
  • Increasing the temperature increases the energy of reactant particles. This means that a greater proportion (more) of the particles will have more energy than the activation energy that is needed.
  • Together, these lead to more successful collisions. This increases the rate of reaction.
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Surface area of solid reactants

  • Increasing the surface area increases the frequency (number) of collisions. This increases the rate of reaction.
  • This is often done by breaking up solids into smaller lumps (e.g. powders).
  • This increase in surface area to volume ratio makes sure that more particles are exposed to attack.
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Catalysts

  • Catalysts are substances that increase the rate of a chemical reaction without being used up in the process.

Jump to other topics

1States of Matter

2Atoms, Elements & Compounds

3Stoichometry

4Electrochemistry

5Chemical Energetics

6Chemical Reactions

7Acids, Bases & Salts

8The Periodic Table

9Metals

10Chemistry of the Environment

11Organic Chemistry

11.1Formulae, Functional Groups & Terminology

11.2Naming Organic Compounds

11.3Fuels

11.4Alkanes

11.5Alkenes

11.6Alcohols

11.7Carboxylic Acids

11.8Polymers

12Experimental Techniques & Chemical Analysis

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