This produces effervescence (the posh word for bubbles!). Other reactions such as adding hydrochloric acid to a sample of magnesium produces hydrogen gas. For example, an exothermic reaction might produce heat and we can monitor the temperature change over time. So, it’s important to be able to measure rates of reaction but how do we do it? It would be very difficult to monitor a specific chemical being produced or used as reactions are often a confusing mixture, but quite often we can observe obvious side effects that are easy to measure. If this is known, then manufacturers can research the best way of increasing the number of successful molecule collisions to increase the yield. For example, a slow rate of reaction might indicate that few of the collisions are happening with the right amount of force to break the reactants chemical bonds, so the product isn’t made as quickly. Since reactions require the molecules to overcome a particular energy barrier to collide successfully, the rate of reaction often indicates whether the conditions are adequate for this to happen. So, the rate of reaction is effectively the speed the product is formed and the speed with which the reactant is used up. When a reaction occurs, molecules are colliding together with enough energy for reactants to be broken down or changed into a new species known as a product (often there is more than one product). How do we monitor rates of reaction?įirstly, it’s important to understand what a rate of reaction is. This information is essential for the large-scale manufacture of many chemicals including fertilisers, drugs and household cleaning items. By finding out how fast products are made and what causes reactions to slow down we can develop methods to improve production. The rate of a reaction is a powerful diagnostic tool.
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