Magnesium and CHEMISTRY

hydrochloric acid (model) Chemical

kinetics
Science Background

Reaction rate
A chemical reaction is a process in which one or more substances (reactants) change into
one or more new substances (products).
The rate of a chemical reaction indicates how fast a reaction takes place. In other words
the reaction rate is the 'rate of formation of product' or the 'rate of removal of reactant'.
For a one-step reaction A →B the reaction rate at which A transforms in B, is the
change in concentration of A with time, mathematically expressed as:
Δ[ A ] Δ[ B ]
rate=− = rate=
Δt or Δt
For a general reaction with stoichiometric coefficients (represented by lowercase letters)
aA +bB→ pP+qQ
The reaction rate is:
1 d[ A ] 1 d [ B ] 1 d [ P ] 1 d [Q ]
rate=− =− = =
a dt b dt p dt q dt
with a negative sign for reactants and a positive signs for products.
Generally, the reaction rate can be expressed as a relationship between a constant
k and (relevant) concentrations:
rate=k∗[ A ] x

An equation of this type is used in this activity. It assumes the concentration of OH -

to be constant, since sodium hydroxide was added in excess. Because of this, the
reaction rate only depends on the concentration of CV
The reaction rate can be measured by using different experimental techniques. These
include, but are not limited to, the following:
 by measuring a change of volume of a gas which is formed during a reaction,
 by measuring a change of pressure of a gas which is formed during a reaction,
 by measuring a change of colour during a reaction,
 by measuring a change of conductivity during a reaction.

From these equations, we can see that the reaction speed is not constant during the
reaction. Since the concentration of substances will decrease during the reaction, so will
the reaction speed. This is not a linear relationship which can be seen in the graphs made
using the models.

1 Magnesium and hydrochloric acid (model) - Science Background

 Factors affecting rates of reaction
Every chemical reaction proceeds at its own rate. Some reactions are naturally fast and
some are naturally slow under the same conditions. However, by varying the conditions of
the reaction, the rate of almost any reaction can be modified. There are five factors which
affect the rate of a reaction, according to the collision theory of reacting particles.
 Temperature: Usually conducting a reaction at a higher temperature delivers
more energy into the system and increases the reaction rate by causing more
collisions between particles, as explained by collision theory. The influence of
temperature is described by the Arrhenius equation (see below).
 Concentration: Reaction rate increases with concentration, as described by the
rate law and explained by collision theory.
 Pressure: The rate of gaseous reactions increases with pressure, which is, in
fact, equivalent to an increase in concentration of the gas.
 Surface area: In reactions on surfaces, which take place for example during
heterogeneous catalysis, the rate of reaction increases as the surface area increases.
That is because more particles of the solid are exposed and can be hit by reactant
molecules.
 Catalysts: The presence of a catalyst increases the reaction rate by providing an
alternative pathway with a lower activation energy.

Rate law
Experimentally it is found that reaction rate depends on the concentration of the species
involved in the reaction. The relation between the rate and these concentrations can be
expressed mathematically in the form of an equation called a rate law.
For a reaction
aA +bB→ pP+qQ ,
the rate equation is of the form
r=k [ A ]a [ B ]b
In this equation k is the reaction rate coefficient or rate constant, although it is not really a
constant. It depends on several factors, such as temperature, surface area, etc.
The exponents a and b are called the reaction orders and depend on the reaction
mechanism. They reaction orders must be determined experimentally.
For a zero-order reaction (red line), the rate of reaction is constant as the reaction
progresses.

2 CMA Learning and Teaching Materials

For a first-order reaction (green line),
the rate of reaction is directly
proportional to the concentration. As
the reactant is consumed during the
reaction, the concentration drops and
so does the rate of reaction.
For a second-order reaction (blue line),
the rate of reaction decreases with the
square of the concentration, producing
an upward curving line in the rate-
concentration plot. For this type of
reaction, the rate of reaction
decreases rapidly (faster than linearly)
as the concentration of the reactant
decreases.

Magnesium and hydrochloric

acid
In this activity students study the reaction between magnesium and a solution of
hydrochloric acid. The reaction equation is as follows:
Mg (s) + 2 H+ (aq)  Mg2+ (aq) + H2 (g)
The rate equation is:
r = k·[Mg]x·[H+]y
X and y are the reaction orders for Mg and H+ respectively. The total order for this reaction
x + y. It is possible to assume [Mg] = 0, since it is a solid and thus does not have a
concentration it that sense. This can be compared to the equilibrium equation in which
solids and liquids are never present.
Based on the reaction equation, it is also possible to assume that y = 2, since H + has a
reaction coefficient of 2.
Birk et al (JCE, 1993) the surface area of the magnesium ribbon is also
incorporated into the rate equation:

r = k*(surface area Mg)*[H+]2

In that publication, the value for k is emperically determined to be 0,0272 (at 32

degress Celsius). Using this specific rate equation in the model might result in an
even better fit.

Magnesium and hydrochloric acid (model) - Science Background 3