Name: ( )

Worksheet 14
Class: Date:

Speed of Reaction

for Chapter 18
ANSWER IT RIGHT!
Go through the worked example. Use the tips to guide you in understanding and answering
the questions.

(a) Zinc powder was added to excess dilute hydrochloric acid. The volume of hydrogen gas produced
was recorded at regular time intervals. The graph below shows the results of the experiment.

Volume of H2/cm3

80

60

40

20

0
50 100 150 200 Time/s

(i) At what time did the reaction stop? Why?

(ii) Estimate the time required for half the mass of zinc to react with dilute hydrochloric acid.
Explain your answer.

The term ‘estimate’ implies an approximate calculation of the amount or value, based on the information
given (in this case, the graph).

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 Thought Process
(i) The horizontal portion of the curve shows that the reaction has stopped.

Answer
(i) 170 s. The reaction stopped because all the zinc metal had reacted.
(ii) Total volume of hydrogen produced = 74 cm3
If half the mass of zinc has reacted, the volume of hydrogen produced will be 37 cm3.
From the graph, the time taken to produce 37 cm3 of hydrogen is 35 s.

(b) The reaction between zinc and dilute hydrochloric acid is catalysed by copper(II) sulfate, CuSO4.
(i) Define the term ‘catalyst’.

‘Define’ requires you to state the meaning of the term.

(ii) Sketch the graphs of the volume of hydrogen produced against time for the reaction between
zinc and dilute hydrochloric acid with and without copper(II) sulfate.

• The term ‘sketch’ implies that your curve need not be accurately drawn on graph paper.
• However, the shape of your curve must be correct. Your curve may need to display some important
values. In this case, both graphs should start from the origin and show the same final volume of
hydrogen.

Answer
(i) A catalyst is a substance which increases the speed of a chemical reaction and remains
chemically unchanged at the end of the reaction.
(ii) Volume of H2/cm3

with CuSO4

without CuSO4

Time/s
0

TEST IT!

Section A: Multiple-Choice Questions

Choose the correct answer and write its letter in the brackets provided.

1. When excess magnesium ribbon is added to dilute hydrochloric acid, the reaction gradually
becomes slower and finally stops. Which of the following statements best explains this
observation?
A The concentration of the hydrochloric acid decreases until it finally becomes zero.
B The magnesium ribbon is slowly being coated with an insoluble layer of magnesium chloride.
C The magnesium ribbon gradually becomes smaller.
D The temperature of the reaction mixture gradually decreases as the reaction proceeds. ( )

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 2. Excess hydrochloric acid is added to a given mass of calcium carbonate. A graph of volume of
carbon dioxide produced against time is plotted.

Volume of CO2/cm3

40

30

20

10

0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 Time/min

Which of the following statements about this experiment is true?

A At 2.4 minutes, all the calcium carbonate has reacted.
B The reaction is complete after 3.0 minutes.
C The speed of the reaction is fastest at 3.0 minutes.
D The time taken for half the mass of calcium carbonate to react is 1.1 minutes. ( )

3. Which of the following acids reacts the fastest when 1.0 g of magnesium powder is added to it?
(Assume that all the experiments are carried out at the same temperature.)
A 50.0 cm3 of 1.0 mol/dm3 sulfuric acid
B 50.0 cm3 of 1.0 mol/dm3 hydrochloric acid
C 50.0 cm3 of 1.0 mol/dm3 nitric acid
D 100.0 cm3 of 1.0 mol/dm3 ethanoic acid ( )

4. The time taken for 5.0 g of marble chips to react completely with 50 cm3 of dilute hydrochloric
acid was 10 minutes. The time taken for the same experiment would be longer than 10 minutes if
.
A the reaction was carried out using smaller pieces of marble chips
B concentrated hydrochloric acid was used
C distilled water was added to the reaction mixture
D a catalyst was added to the reaction mixture ( )

5. The gases, Q and R, react according to the equation:

piston
Q(g) + R(g) T(g)
The reaction mixture is placed in a container at room
temperature as shown in the diagram. Which of the
following actions can speed up the formation of gas T?
A Adding an inert gas to the mixture mixture of
B Using a bigger container Q and R

C Lowering the piston in the container

D Placing the container in water at 0°C
( )

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 6. Manganese(IV) oxide, MnO2, catalyses the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to form oxygen
and water. Which of the following statements about manganese(IV) oxide are true?
1 It causes hydrogen peroxide molecules to move faster.
2 It decreases the activation energy of the reaction.
3 It remains chemically unchanged after the reaction.
4 Its mass remains unchanged after the reaction.
A 1 and 2 B 1 and 3
C 3 and 4 D 2, 3 and 4 ( )

7. Catalysts are commonly used to speed up industrial processes. Which of the following is incorrect?
Process Catalyst
A cracking calcium oxide
B manufacture of ammonia iron
C manufacture of margarine nickel
D removal of air pollutants from exhaust gases platinum ( )

8. Catalase is an enzyme commonly found in living cells. It increases the rate of decomposition
of hydrogen peroxide found in human bodies into water and oxygen gas. Which of the following
statements about catalase is most likely to be correct?
A It operates effectively at all temperatures.
B It operates most effectively over a certain range of pH.
C It increases the activation energy of the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide.
D It increases the yield of products from the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. ( )

9. A substance, X, is added to a reaction mixture. The energy profile diagram below shows the effect
of X on the reaction.

Energy

without X
with X
reactants

products

Progress of reaction

Which of the following observations are not true?

1 The enthalpy change of the reaction decreases.
2 The activation energy of the reaction remains unchanged.
3 The reaction takes a shorter time to complete.
A 1 and 2 B 1 and 3
C 2 and 3 D 1, 2 and 3 ( )

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 *10. An experiment involving the decomposition of Volume of O2/cm3
10.0 cm3 of hydrogen peroxide of concentration
0.4 mol/dm3 was carried out at 30°C. The results II
are represented by Graph I on the right.
I
The experiment was repeated under different
conditions and the results are represented by
Graph II. Which of the following would produce
Graph II? (The mass of manganese(IV) oxide used in
both experiments was 1.0 g.)
Time/min

Concentration of
Volume of hydrogen
Experiment hydrogen peroxide/ Temperature/°C
peroxide/cm3
(mol/dm3)
A 10.0 0.25 30
B 12.5 0.40 30
C 20.0 0.25 28
D 20.0 0.40 40 ( )

Section B: Structured Questions

Answer the following questions in the spaces provided.

1. Three experiments were carried out to study the effect of particle size on the speed of reaction
between marble chips (CaCO3) and hydrochloric acid. The graphs below show how the volume of
carbon dioxide gas given off varied with time. In each experiment, a fixed volume of hydrochloric
acid and excess marble chips were used.

Volume of CO2/cm3

I
II

Q
III

0 Time/min

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 (a) State two variables that must be kept constant during the experiments.

(b) At which point, P, Q or R, on Graph I was the reaction most vigorous?

(c) Why does Graph I become horizontal at point R?

(d) Which graph represents the experiment using

(i) large marble chips;

(ii) small marble chips;

(iii) powdered marble?

(e) In another experiment, 1.0 g of calcium carbonate powder was reacted with excess hydrochloric
acid at 25°C to produce v cm3 of carbon dioxide. The volume of carbon dioxide produced
against time is represented by Graph X.

Volume of CO2/cm3

2v Y

v X

0 Time/min

Graph Y was obtained when the experiment was repeated under different conditions. Suggest
two changes in the conditions that will produce Graph Y.

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 *2. Wine slowly turns sour when it is exposed to air. This is due to the reaction between ethanol in the
wine and oxygen in the air to form ethanoic acid.
ethanol + oxygen ethanoic acid + water
However, when a piece of red-hot platinum wire is suspended over ethanol vapour as shown below,
a sour smell is quickly detected and the wire continues to glow for some time.

red-hot
platinum wire
ethanol vapour
mixed with air

ethanol

(a) Deduce the role of the platinum wire in this experiment. Give a reason for your answer.

(b) Explain why the platinum wire continues to glow for some time.

(c) Sketch the energy profile diagram for the conversion of ethanol to ethanoic acid with and
without the platinum wire.

(d) Use your answer in (c) to explain the effect of the platinum wire on the reaction between
ethanol and oxygen.

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 (e) In the industrial preparation of alcoholic drinks, sugar or starch is converted into alcohol
with the use of enzymes. During the conversion, the temperature is not allowed to go above
37°C or below 14°C. Give a reason for this condition.

*3. Our stomachs secrete hydrochloric acid. Antacid tablets can reduce excess acidity in our
stomachs. A student carried out six experiments to study the speed of reaction between an antacid
tablet and excess hydrochloric acid.

Volume used in the Temperature at Time taken for the tablet to react
Experiment mixture/cm3 the start of the completely with the acid/s
Acid Water experiment/°C Crushed tablet Whole tablet
1 10 40 20 30 35
2 20 30 22 24 30
3 30 20 28 18 21
4 30 20 22 22 25
5 20 30 20 26 32
6 10 40 29 24 29

(a) How would the student know that the tablet had reacted completely with the acid?

(b) Explain why the total volume of the acid–water mixture was kept constant in all the experiments.

(c) Using the results of the experiments in the table, explain the effect each of the following
actions had on the speed of reaction between the acid and the tablet.
(i) Crushing the tablet

(ii) Increasing the temperature

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 (iii) Increasing the concentration of the acid

Section C: Free-Response Questions

Answer the following questions.

1. Marble chips (calcium carbonate) react with dilute hydrochloric acid according to the equation:
CaCO3(s) + 2HCl(aq) CaCl2(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)
A conical flask containing marble chips and dilute hydrochloric acid was placed on an electronic
balance. The decrease in the mass of the reaction mixture was recorded at half-minute intervals.
The results of this experiment are shown in the table below.

Time/min Total loss in mass/g

0.0 0.00
0.5 0.13
1.0 0.24
1.5 0.33
2.0 0.40
2.5 0.46
3.0 0.50
3.5 0.50
4.0 0.50

(a) Using the information from the table, calculate the volume, in cm3, of carbon dioxide produced
at room temperature and pressure in 1.5 minutes. (1.0 mol of any gas occupies 24 dm3
at r.t.p.)

Mr of CO2 = 12 + (2 × 16)
= 44
Number of moles of CO2 = mass
molar mass
= 0.33
44
= 0.0075 mol
Volume of CO2 produced = number of moles × 24 000 cm3
= 0.0075 × 24 000
= 180 cm3

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 (b) Using the information from the table, show that the speed of the reaction decreased with
time.
The rate of mass loss indicates the speed of reaction, i.e. how quickly the marble chips reacted with
hydrochloric acid.
Mass loss between 0–0.5 minutes = 0.13 – 0.00
= 0.13 g
Mass loss between 2–2.5 minutes = 0.46 – 0.40
= 0.06 g
Mass loss between 2.5–3.0 minutes = 0.50 – 0.46
= 0.04 g
The rate of total mass loss decreased as the reaction proceeded. This shows that the speed of the
reaction decreased with time.

(c) Explain why the speed of the reaction decreased with time.

(d) Suggest another method to measure the speed of the reaction.

2. When aqueous sodium thiosulfate (Na2S2O3) and hydrochloric acid are mixed, a yellow precipitate
of sulfur is produced. The solution becomes increasingly cloudy as more sulfur is formed.
Na2S2O3(aq) + 2HCl(aq) S(s) + 2NaCl(aq) + SO2(g) + H2O(l)
Four experiments were carried out to study the effect of the concentration of sodium thiosulfate
on the speed of reaction. Only the concentration of sodium thiosulfate was changed for each
experiment.

conical flask

HCl(aq) and Na2S2O3(aq)

white paper with a cross

The time taken for the cross on the paper to disappear from view was recorded.

Experiment A B C D
Time taken/s 110 80 50 40

(a) (i) Write the ionic equation for the reaction between sodium thiosulfate and hydrochloric
acid.
S2O32–(aq) + 2H+(aq) S(s) + SO2(g) + H2O(l)

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 (ii) Explain, in terms of collisions between particles, how the concentration of sodium
thiosulfate affects the speed of reaction.

(b) Deduce which experiment had used sodium thiosulfate with the highest concentration.
Explain your answer.

(c) Suggest two conditions that should be kept constant when carrying out the experiments.

*3. Explain each of the observations below in term of collisions between particles.
(a) Nitrogen reacts more vigorously with hydrogen at pressures above 200 atmospheres than at
1 atmosphere.

(b) Placing a light stick (or glow stick) in hot water makes it glow more brightly.

(c) When a piece of raw liver is dropped into hydrogen peroxide, there is a rapid reaction and
oxygen gas is liberated.

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