Ask A Scientist© Chemistry Archive

   
 
 > >    name         christina long
 > >    status       student
 > >    age          16
 > >    EMAIL
 > >    question -   what affects the rate of reaction most?
 > >ie. concentration, temperature etc

That depends upon your reaction.
Saundra Sample

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Dear christina,
that depends entirely on the reaction.
cocentration can either have a huge effect
or have no effect at all. temperature usually
has an effect, but whether it is big or small
really depends on the system at hand. the introduction
of a catalyst, if one is available, may have a big
or small effect depending on how effective the catalyst is.
So sorry, but there is no definite answer to
this question.

Robert Q. Topper, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Chemistry
The Cooper Union for the Advancement
of Science And Art
51 Astor Place
New York, NY 10003
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Hi Christina...the rates of chemical reactions are
controlled by some factors. The ones most frequently
found are: concentration of reactants, temperature,
nature of reactants and catalysts.
As a general rule, the greater the concentration
(or pressure, if they are gases) of the reactants,
the more rapidly the reaction will occur.
In general also, the higher the temperature of the
reactants, the more rapid is the reaction.
In heterogenous reactions, the physical nature of
the reactants is particularly important, because
the  greater the area of the interface between phases
that react with each other, more rapid is the reaction.
We must mention also catalysts, substances that can
influence the rates of some chemical reactions.
All these factors can influence more or less, different
chemical reactions. A full consideration of them is
done through studies of the kinetics and equilibrium
of each particular reaction.
Thanks for asking NEWTON!
Mabel
(Dr. Mabel Rodrigues)
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