Question

Which of these influences the rate of a chemical reaction?

Answer 1

The rate of a chemical reaction can be influenced by the chemical nature of the reacting substances, the state of subdivision of the reactants, the temperature of the reactants, the concentration of the reactants, and the presence of a catalyst.

Step-by-step explanation:

The rate of a chemical reaction can be influenced by several factors. These include:

1. Chemical nature of the reacting substances: Different substances have different rates of reaction even under the same conditions. For example, iron and sodium react differently when exposed to air.
2. State of subdivision of the reactants: Reactions proceed faster when the reactants are in smaller particles, providing a larger surface area for reaction.
3. Temperature of the reactants: Increasing the temperature generally increases the rate of a reaction as it provides more energy for the reactant molecules to collide and react.
4. Concentration of the reactants: Higher concentrations of reactants generally lead to faster reaction rates as there are more particles available to react with each other.
5. Presence of a catalyst: A catalyst can increase the rate of a reaction by providing an alternative pathway with a lower activation energy.