Mandatory Experiment 6.

Studying the effects on reaction rate of (i) concentration and (ii) temperature
Student Material Theory
The reaction used is that between a sodium thiosulfate solution and hydrochloric acid: 2HCl(aq) + Na2S2O3(aq) 2NaCl(aq) + SO2(aq) + S(s) + H2O(l)

The precipitate of sulfur formed gradually obscures a cross marked on paper and placed beneath the reaction flask. The rate of reaction, and consequently the time taken to obscure the cross, depends on a number of variables such as temperature, concentration and volume. By varying one of these and keeping the others constant, the effect on rate can be studied. The inverse of the time taken to obscure the cross is the measure of reaction rate used in this experiment.

(i) Effect of concentration

Chemicals and Apparatus
0.l M sodium thiosulfate solution Dilute hydrochloric acid (3 M) Graduated cylinders Stop clock Conical flasks White paper
i

Procedure
NB: Wear your safety glasses. 1. Place 100 cm3 of the sodium thiosulfate solution into a conical flask. 2. Add 10 cm3 of 3 M hydrochloric acid to the flask, while starting the stop clock at the same time.

3. Swirl the flask and place it on a piece of white paper marked with a cross.

4. Record the time taken for the cross to disappear. 5. Repeat the experiment using 80, 60, 40 and 20 cm3 of. sodium thiosulfate solution respectively. In each case, add water to make the volume up to 100 cm3 and mix before adding HCl. 6. If the initial sodium thiosulfate concentration is 0.1 M, subsequent concentrations will be 0.08 M, 0.06 M, 0.04 M and 0.02 M respectively. 7. Record the results in a table similar to the following: Concentration 0.l M of thiosulfate Reaction time (s) 1/time 0.08 M 0.06 M 0.04 M 0.02 M

8. Draw a graph of 1/time against concentration. This is effectively a graph of reaction rate against concentration.

(ii) Effect of temperature

Chemicals and Apparatus
0.05 M sodium thiosulfate solution Dilute HCl (3 M) Conical flasks Graduated cylinder Stop clock White paper Thermometer Bunsen burner Tripod Wire gauze
i

Procedure
NB: Wear your safety glasses. 1 . Place 100 cm3 of 0.05 M sodium thiosulfate solution into a conical flask. 2. Warm the flask gently until the temperature is about 20 0C. 3. Add 5 cm3 of 3 M HCl, starting a stop clock at the same time, before proceeding. 4. Without delay, swirl the flask, place it on a piece of white paper marked with a cross, and record the exact temperature of the contents of the flask. 5. Record the time taken for the cross to disappear 6. Repeat the experiment, heating the thiosulfate to temperatures of approximately

30 0C, 40 0C, 50 0C and 60 0C respectively (before adding the HCl).

7. Record the results in a table similar to the following: Temperature (0C) Reaction time (s) 1/time 8. Draw a graph of 1/time against temperature. This is effectively a graph of reaction rate against temperature.

Questions relating to the experiments

1. What is the effect of increasing the concentration on the reaction time? 2. What is the effect of increasing the concentration on the reaction rate? 3. What is meant by saying that two quantities are directly proportional? 4. What is the effect of raising the temperature on the reaction time? 5. What is the effect of raising the temperature on the reaction rate? Suggest two factors responsible for the result observed. 6. Suggest a reason why it is not recommended to carry out the experiment at temperatures higher than about 60 0C. 7. Which is the limiting reactant in the temperature experiment?

Teacher Material

(i) Effect of concentration

Note that the same piece of paper with the cross marked on it should be used throughout the experiment. The same observer throughout the experiment should measure the time taken for the cross to disappear. The bottom of the conical flask tends to become coated with sulfur as a result of the reaction. Therefore the flask needs to be cleaned frequently with a brush. If the hydrochloric acid concentration were less than 2 M, then 10 cm3 would not be sufficient to completely precipitate all the available sulfur in 100 cm3 of 0.l M Na2S2O3. As sulfur dioxide is produced in small quantities in this experiment, good ventilation is essential.

Preparation of Reagents
Sodium thiosulfate solution: Approximately 0.l M sodium thiosulfate (about 25 g/l) is suitable. Dilute hydrochloric acid: This solution should be approximately 3 M - this may be prepared in the fume hood by diluting 640 cm3 of concentrated HCl to 2.5 l by adding it to deionised water.

Quantities per working group

300 cm3 of 0.l M Na2S2O3 25 cm3 of 3 M HCl

Extension Work
Higher Level students should be able to suggest an alternative procedure using the same reactants. This could involve keeping the concentration constant, and varying the HCl concentration. Suitable starting concentrations should be calculated.

(ii) Effect of temperature

The sodium thiosulfate solution for this experiment may be prepared by diluting 500 cm3 0.l M sodium thiosulfate to 1 litre with deionised water. Note that the same piece of paper with the cross marked on it should be used throughout the experiment.

The time taken for the cross to disappear should be measured by the same observer throughout the experiment. The bottom of the conical flask tends to become coated with sulfur as a result of the reaction. Therefore the flask needs to be cleaned frequently with a brush. If the hydrochloric acid concentration were less than 2 M, then 5 cm3 would not be sufficient to completely precipitate all the available sulfur in 100 cm3 of 0.05 M Na2S2O3. As sulfur dioxide is produced in small quantities in this experiment, good ventilation is essential.

Preparation of Reagents
Sodium thiosulfate solution: Approximately 0.05 M sodium thiosulfate (about 12.5 g/l) is suitable. Dilute hydrochloric acid: This solution should be approximately 3 M - this may be prepared in the fume hood by diluting 640 cm3 of concentrated HCl to 2.5 l by adding it to deionised water.

Quantities per working group

500 cm3 of 0.05 M Na2S2O3 25 cm3 of 3 M HCl

Safety Considerations
Safety glasses must be worn.

Chemical hazard notes

Concentrated hydrochloric acid : Very corrosive to eyes and skin, and its vapour is very irritating to lungs. Add acid to water when diluting. Sodium thiosulfate is an eye irritant. Sulfur dioxide is toxic by inhalation, and is a severe eye and respiratory irritant.

Disposal of wastes
Filter the waste liquid. Mix the sulfur obtained and the filter paper with sand, and dispose of in refuse bin. Neutralise the filtrate with sodium carbonate, dilute with excess water and flush to the foul water drain.

Sample Results

(i) Effect of concentration

Concentration of thiosulfate Reaction time in seconds 1/time 0.l M 43 0.0233 0.08 M 52 0.0192 0.06 M 71 0.0141 0.04 M 114 0.0088 0.02 M 270 0.0037

(ii) Effect of temperature

Temperature (0C) Reaction time in seconds 1/time 19 105
0.0095

32 46
0.0217

38 36
0.0278

51 18
0.0556

60 12
0.0833

Effect of Temperature on Rate of Reaction

0.1

0.09 0.08

0.07

0.06 1/Time

0.05 0.04

0.03

0.02 0.01

0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 Tem perature

Suggested Answers to Student Questions

1. What is the effect of increasing the concentration on the reaction time? The reaction time is decreased. 2. What is the effect of increasing the concentration on the reaction rate? The rate is increased. 3. What is meant by saying that two quantities are directly proportional? If one of the quantities is increased/decreased by a certain factor, the other changes in exactly the same way. 4. What is the effect of raising the temperature on the reaction time?

The reaction time is decreased. 5. What is the effect of raising the temperature on the reaction rate? Suggest two factors responsible for the result observed. The rate is increased. The higher temperature results in greater kinetic energy of the particles present. This causes: (i) more collisions per unit time, and (ii) a greater proportion of the collisions to have the activation energy needed for products to form. Both (i) and (ii) result in a rate increase. 6. Suggest a reason why it is not recommended to carry out the experiment at temperatures higher than about 60 0C. The reaction occurs so quickly that it is not possible to measure the time accurately. 7. Which is the limiting reactant in the temperature experiment? 100 cm3 of 0.05 M Na2S2O3 contains: 100/1000 x 0.05 = 0.005 moles Na2S2O3 5 cm3 of 3 M HCl contains: 5/1000 x 3 = 0.015 moles HCl According to the balanced equation, the reacting ratio is Na2S2O3 : HCl = 1:2 The amounts used are in the ratio Na2S2O3 : HCl = 0.005: 0.015 = 1 : 3 Clearly Na2S2O3 is the limiting reactant.