Example 1

In a chemical reaction, 2.5g of calcium carbonatereact completely with excess hydrochloric acid to
produce 600cm3 of carbon dioxide gas in 1.5minutes. Find the rate of reaction in term of
a.decreasing mass of calcium carbonate
b. increasing volume of carbon dioxide gas produced

[a. -0.0278g/s; b. 6.67cm3/s

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Examples of fast reaction

Types of reaction Examples

Combustion
Reaction between reactive metal and water
Reaction between reactive metal carbonate
and acid
Ionic precipitation (double decomposition)
Combustion of magnesium in oxygen
Combustion of ethane (C2H6)
Reaction between potassium and water
Reaction between limestone/marble and sulphuric acid
Precipitation of silver (1) chloride
AgNO3 + HCl → AgCl + HNO3

Examples of slow reaction

Types of reaction Examples

Photosynthesis 6CO2 + 6 H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2

Rusting 4Fe + 3O2 + 2H2O → 2Fe2O3•H2O

Fermentation C6H12O6 → 2C2H5OH + 2CO2

Measurement and Calculation

Quantity Measure and Average Rate
Measurable quantity

During a chemical reaction, two things happen

The quantities of reactants reduce.
The quantities of products increase.
1.Therefore, the rate of the reaction can be determined by
a.measuring the decrease of the amount of the reactants over time.
b.measuring the increase of the amount of the products over time.
2.The easily measured quantity changes include
a. Mass
b. Concentration (Conductivity)
c.Volume of gas

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 Example 1
Reaction between calcium carbonate and hydrochloric acid.
CaCO3 + 2HCl → CaCl2 + CO2 + H2O
The rate of the reaction can be determined by
a. Measuring the reduces of the mass of the calcium carbonate (reactants) over time

Rate of Reaction = Mass of CaCO3 reacted

Time taken

b. Measuring the increases of the volume of the carbon dioxide gas produced over time.
Rate of Reaction = Volume of CO2 produced
Time taken
Example 2
In a reaction, 5 g of calcium carbonate takes 250seconds to completely react with solution of hydrochloric
acid. Calculate the average rate for this reaction in units
(a) g s-1 and
(b) mol s-1
[ Relative atomic mass: C 12; 0, 16; Ca, 40]
[a. 0.02g/s; b. 0.0002mol/s]

Immeasurable quantity and average rate

1. In some reaction, some changes are observable but difficult to be measured. For example
a.Change in colour
b. Precipitation
2. The time taken for the colour of a reactant to change or certain amount of precipitate toform can be used to
measure the rate of reaction.
Example 3
2HCl(ak) + Na2S2O3(ak)
2NaCl(ak) + S(p) + SO2(g) + H2O(ce)
In a reaction between dilute hydrochloric acid and sodium thiosulphate, sulphur precipitate was
produced after 2 minute . What is the rate of the reaction?

Answer
Rate of reaction= [0.00833s-1]

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Example 4
When the aqueous of ethanadioic is mixed withacided potassium manganate(VII) , the reactionhappen
slowly at room temperature. The purplecolour of the solution is bleached after 40 seconds.Calculate the
average rate of reaction.