Investigating the Effects of Concentration on a Chemical Reaction

Title

Investigating the effect of reactant concentration on the rate of a chemical reaction

Aim

To determine how the concentration of reactant A affects the initial rate of a chosen chemical reaction,
and to determine the order of the reaction with respect to A.

Background / Theory

Collision theory: Reaction rate depends on the frequency and effectiveness of collisions between
reacting particles. Increasing concentration increases collision frequency, usually increasing rate.

Rate law (general): Rate = k [A]^n, where k is the rate constant and n is the order with respect to A.
Taking logs gives log(rate) = log(k) + n·log([A]) — a log-log plot gives slope = reaction order n.

Initial rate method: Measure the initial rate at several concentrations while keeping other variables
constant (temperature, volume, catalyst, etc.), then analyze how rate depends on concentration.

Hypothesis
If concentration of A increases, the initial rate of reaction will increase. If the reaction is first order with
respect to A, rate ∝ [A], and a plot of rate vs [A] will be linear. On a log-log plot, slope ≈ 1 for first order.

Variables

Independent variable: Concentration of reactant A (mol L⁻¹).

Dependent variable: Initial rate of reaction (mol L⁻¹ s⁻¹).

Controlled variables: Temperature, total volume, concentration of any other reactants, catalyst
presence, mixing/stirring, method for measuring rate, atmospheric pressure (where possible).

Materials (example)

Solutions of reactant A at known concentrations (e.g. 0.10, 0.20, 0.30, 0.40, 0.50 mol L⁻¹).

Other reactant(s) at constant concentration (if needed).

Stopclock / timer.

Colorimeter or titration setup / gas syringe / conductivity meter (depending on reaction) — choose a
method to measure reaction progress.

Pipettes, volumetric flasks, beakers, thermometer.

Ice bath or water bath to keep temperature constant.

Safety equipment: goggles, gloves, lab coat.

Method (example using a colour change or titration method)

1. Prepare standard solutions of A at the desired concentrations (0.10–0.50 M).

2. Set up the measuring apparatus (colorimeter at fixed wavelength or titration reagents and indicator).

3. Equilibrate all solutions to the same temperature (e.g., 25.0 °C).

4. Mix a measured volume of A with the other reagent(s) and start the stopwatch immediately.

5. Measure the change in concentration (via absorbance, volume of titrant, gas produced, etc.) at short
time intervals for the initial period — use the initial slope to estimate the initial rate.

6. Repeat each concentration at least three times (triplicates) to reduce random error.

7. Record the initial rates (initial slope of concentration vs time).

8. Plot mean initial rate vs concentration and plot log(rate) vs log([A]) to find the order n (slope of log-
log plot).

9. Calculate the rate constant k if order is known (from rate = k [A]^n).

> Note: Use the same technique for measuring the rate each run. If using colorimetry, convert
absorbance to concentration using a calibration curve.

Example Data (synthetic, for report use)

I generated a realistic synthetic dataset with triplicate measurements at each concentration. The
program I ran displayed the full measurements table and a summary table (mean and standard
deviation for each concentration), and produced two plots:

Concentration vs Mean Initial Rate (with linear fit)

Log10(Rate) vs Log10([Concentration]) (with linear fit; slope ≈ reaction order)

Key numerical analysis results from the example dataset

Concentrations tested: 0.10, 0.20, 0.30, 0.40, 0.50 mol L⁻¹ (triplicates at each).

Linear regression (mean rate vs [A])

Slope (estimate of k) ≈ 0.1149 s⁻¹

Intercept ≈ 0.00210

R² ≈ 0.9934 (very strong linear fit)

Log–log regression (order determination)

Slope (reaction order n) ≈ 0.902

Intercept ≈ -0.962

R² ≈ 0.9911 (very strong fit on log-log scale)

Interpretation: The slope on the log-log plot is ≈ 0.90, which is close to 1.0, indicating the reaction is
approximately first order with respect to A in this example dataset. The high R² values show the data fit
the assumed model well.
Sample calculations (how to calculate rate, k and order)

1. Mean rate at each concentration = average of triplicate initial rates.

2. Standard deviation = measure of experimental scatter for each set.

3. Rate constant (k) for first order (if order n = 1): k ≈ slope of rate vs [A].

4. Order (n): slope found by linear regression of log(rate) vs log([A]).

If slope ≈ 1 → first order

If slope ≈ 2 → second order

If slope ≈ 0 → zero order

Graphs (what to present)

Plot of mean initial rate on y-axis vs concentration on x-axis with linear best-fit line.
Log-log plot (log10 rate vs log10 concentration) with best-fit line — slope ≈ reaction order.

Error bars (±1 SD) on the rate plot if possible.

(You should see the two example plots I produced above — concentration vs rate and the log-log plot.)

Conclusion (based on example dataset)

From the experimental (synthetic) data:

The initial rate increased approximately linearly with concentration.

The log-log plot slope ≈ 0.90, and therefore the reaction is approximately first order with respect to
reactant A.

The rate constant (k) estimated from the linear fit ≈ 0.115 s⁻¹ (units depend on order; here treated for
first order units consistent with rate = k[A]).

Evaluation / Sources of Error

Random errors: timing inaccuracies, human reaction time when using a stopwatch, instrument noise.

Systematic errors: inaccurate volumes (pipetting errors), temperature fluctuations, imperfect calibration
of colorimeter/titration.
Assumptions: initial rates measured assume concentrations of reactants other than A are effectively
constant; for accurate orders, ensure only A is varied.

Improvements: use automated data logging (e.g., data logger or colorimeter with continuous readout),
more replicates (5 instead of 3), more concentration points, and stricter temperature control.

Recommendations

1. Perform at least three repeats (triplicates) at each concentration — preferably 4–5 repeats for better
statistics.

2. Maintain strict temperature control (water bath ±0.1 °C if possible).

3. Use automated timers or data-logging instruments to reduce human timing error.

4. Plot error bars and calculate standard error of the mean for more accurate uncertainty estimates.

5. If log-log slope is not close to an integer (1 or 2), consider additional experiments at different
concentration ranges and check that the reaction mechanism didn't change (e.g., catalyst or side
reactions).
6. If you need to prove mechanism, consider complementary experiments (vary other reactants, add
inhibitors, measure activation energy by varying temperature).

Practical notes for writing the report

Include a title page, aim, hypothesis, method, raw data table, processed data table (means and SDs),
graphs with captions, calculations, conclusion, evaluation and recommendations.

Label axes with units and include a best-fit line and R² value on plots.

Show at least one example of a raw calculation (e.g., one concentration’s rate mean and SD, and how
you computed log values).

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If you want, I can:

Turn this into a formatted Word/PDF file or a printable lab report.

Replace my synthetic data with a table you measured and re-run the analysis and plots with your real
results.
Make the graphs look presentation-ready with axis labels, error bars, and captions for a formal report.

Which would you like next?