Question

What are 4 factors that influence the rate of a chemical reaction? Give an example for atleast two of the factors.

Answer 1

Four factors that influence the rate of a chemical reaction are concentration of reactants, temperature, surface area, and catalysts.

Step-by-step explanation:

The rate of a chemical reaction can be influenced by several factors. Four factors that can affect the rate of a chemical reaction are:

1. Concentration of reactants: Increasing the concentration of reactants generally increases the rate of reaction. For example, in the reaction between hydrochloric acid and sodium thiosulfate, increasing the concentration of the acid or thiosulfate ions would increase the rate of reaction.
2. Temperature: Increasing the temperature generally increases the rate of reaction. For example, in the reaction between hydrogen peroxide and potassium iodide, increasing the temperature would increase the rate of reaction.
3. Surface area: Increasing the surface area of the reactants generally increases the rate of reaction. For example, grinding a solid reactant into a fine powder increases its surface area and therefore increases the rate of reaction.
4. Catalysts: Catalysts can increase the rate of reaction by providing an alternative pathway with a lower activation energy. For example, enzymes act as catalysts in biological reactions, increasing the rate of these reactions.