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Rates of Reaction Flashcards
Free Chemistry Revision Cards on Flashcard Maker
From collision theory to the effect of temperature and concentration, these free Chemistry flashcards cover all the key factors that influence reaction rates for GCSE and A Level.
Question
What is the rate of a chemical reaction?
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Answer
How quickly reactants are converted into products — measured as the change in concentration of reactant or product per unit time. Units: mol/dm³/s or g/s.
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Question
What are the four main factors that affect the rate of reaction?
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Answer
Temperature, concentration (or pressure for gases), surface area, and the presence of a catalyst.
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Question
How does increasing temperature affect reaction rate?
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Answer
Particles move faster, collide more frequently and with more energy — more collisions exceed the activation energy, increasing the rate. Roughly doubles for every 10°C rise.
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Question
How does increasing concentration affect reaction rate?
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Answer
More particles per unit volume → more frequent collisions → greater chance of successful collisions → faster reaction rate.
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Question
How does surface area affect reaction rate?
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Answer
Smaller particle size = greater surface area exposed = more frequent collisions between reactant particles = faster rate. Example: powder reacts faster than lumps.
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Question
What is a catalyst?
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Answer
A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed. It provides an alternative reaction pathway with a lower activation energy.
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Question
What is activation energy?
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Answer
The minimum amount of energy that colliding particles must have for a reaction to occur. Catalysts lower the activation energy needed.
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Question
What is collision theory?
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Answer
A theory stating that reactions occur when particles collide with sufficient energy (≥ activation energy) and the correct orientation. Rate depends on frequency and energy of collisions.
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Question
How can you measure reaction rate experimentally?
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Answer
By measuring: volume of gas produced over time, change in mass (if gas is released), colour change, or turbidity (cloudiness) — using a light sensor or timing when a cross disappears.
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Question
What is a Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution?
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Answer
A graph showing the distribution of kinetic energies among particles in a gas or solution at a given temperature. The area to the right of the activation energy line represents particles that can react.
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