Rates of reaction
12.1 Rates of reaction Worksheet 12.1.1
Lesson 1
Following the rate of a reaction
Objective
To show how the rate of a reaction changes as the reaction progresses.
You will need
100 cm3 conical flask
Rubber bung with one hole and delivery tube (see diagram near bottom of page)
Trough or bowl
Two 100 cm3 measuring cylinders
Clamp stand and clamp
Stopwatch or stop-clock
50 cm3 of 1 mol/dm3 hydrochloric acid
3 cm length of clean magnesium ribbon
Safety
Wear eye protection.
Make sure there are no flames or sparks in the laboratory.
Background
In this experiment you will add magnesium ribbon to excess dilute hydrochloric
acid. The reaction makes hydrogen gas.
magnesium + hydrochloric acid → magnesium chloride + hydrogen
You will measure the volume of hydrogen gas made every 10 seconds. This will
show how the rate of the reaction changes from start to finish.
Preparation
Copy the table below. You will need up to 15 rows.
Time Volume of gas produced since the start of the reaction (cm3)
(seconds)
0
10
20
© Oxford University Press 2013: this may be reproduced for class use solely for the purchaser’s institute 1
Rates of reaction
12.1 Rates of reaction Worksheet 12.1.1
Lesson 1
Procedure
1 Measure out 100 cm3 of hydrochloric acid. Pour it into the conical flask.
2 Set up the rest of the apparatus, as in the diagram. Make sure the measuring
cylinder is full of water.
3 Add the magnesium ribbon to the acid. Quickly replace the bung. Start the
stopwatch.
4 Write down the volume of gas produced every 10 seconds. Stop when the
volume of gas stops changing.
© Oxford University Press 2013: this may be reproduced for class use solely for the purchaser’s institute 2