Sir HONG Chemistry Group 4541/3

Sir HONG Chemistry Group 1

Effect of size of reactant on the rate of reaction

Aim : To investigate the effect of the size of reactant on the rate of reaction.

Problem Statement : Is the rate of reaction between marble chips and dilute hydrochloric acid
affected by the size of the marble chips?

Hypothesis :

Variables
a) Manipulated :
b) Responding :
c) Fixed :

Apparatus : 250 cm
3
conical flask, 50 cm
3
measuring cylinder, delivery tube with rubber
stopper, burette, retort stand with clamps, weighing balance, stopwatch and
basin.

Materials : 0.2 moldm
-3
hydrochloric acid, water, marble chips and marble powder.

Procedures :
1. A burette is filled with water until full. It is then inverted over water in a basin and clamped
vertically.
2. The water level in the burette is adjusted and the initial reading of the burette is recorded.
3. The apparatus as shown in Diagram is set up.
4. 20 cm
3
of 0.2 moldm
-3
hydrochloric acid is measured and poured into the conical flask.
5. 2.0 g of marble chips are added into the conical flask. The flask is closed immediately with
stopper. At the same time, a stopwatch is started.
6. The conical flask is swirled gently. Carbon dioxide gas liberated is collected in the burette by
downward displacement of water.
7. The volume of gas collected in the burette is recorded at 0.5 minute intervals until no more gas is
liberated.
8. Steps 1 to 7 are repeated using 2.0 g of the marble powder. All the other conditions remain
unchanged.
















Marble chips
Hydrochloric acid
Water
Carbon dioxide gas
Sir HONG Chemistry Group 4541/3
Sir HONG Chemistry Group 2
Observation :

i) Marble chips

Time / s 0 30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360
Burette reading / cm
3

Volume of gas / cm
3


ii) Marble powder

Time / s 0 30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360
Burette reading / cm
3

Volume of gas / cm
3


Discussion :
1. What is the total volume of gas liberated by 20 cm
3
of 0.2 moldm
-3
hydrochloric acid?
2. Write a chemical equation for the reaction between marble chips and dilute hydrochloric acid.
3. Write an ionic equation for the reaction between marble chips and dilute hydrochloric acid.
4. Draw a graph of total volume of carbon dioxide gas collected against time for both the marble
chips and powder.
5. Based on the graph, what is the relationship between size of the marble chips and rate of the
reaction?

Conclusion :