The aim of the investigation is to see how different concentrations of Hydrochloric acid affect the rate at which hydrogen gas is produced when it is reacted with a strip of magnesium.
The rate of a reaction is a measure of change that happens in a single unit of time. When a chemical reaction takes place the particles of the reactants collide. The more often the particles collide the more likely they are to react and so the faster the reaction. The speed at which a reaction takes place can vary and depends on a number of factors:
- The surface area of any solid reactants.
- The concentration of reactants (including pressure in the case of gases)
- The temperature
- The presence of a catalyst
In this particular investigation an acid and a metal will be reacted to produce some gas, and therefore one of the main factors will be the concentration of the reactants.
In order for magnesium and acid particles to react together:
- They must collide with each other
- The collisions must have enough energy
If there are a lot of successful collisions in a given minute then, a lot of hydrogen is produced in that minute. The rate of a reaction depends on the number of successful collisions there are in a given minute.
To get any reaction to start there is a certain energy requirement known as the activation energy. The presence of a catalyst lowers this requirement and this means that the reaction can take place more readily.
DIAGRAM
Gas tube Delivery tube
Bung
Plastic bowl or trough Conical flask
Clamp and stand
An investigation to see how Hydrochloric acid reacts with Magnesium to produce Hydrogen gas
Equipment that you will need:
Conical flask Gas tube
Bung Goggles
Delivery tube Stop...