Experiment to consider a factor that affects the rate of reaction between marble chips and hydrochloric acid.

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Tanya Hughes

Experiment to consider a factor that affects the rate of reaction between marble chips and hydrochloric acid.

Factor investigated

I have chosen to investigate the effect of concentration of acid on the speed of the reaction

Calcium Carbonate + Hydrochloric Acid

 Calcium Chloride + Carbon Dioxide + Water

(Calcium carbonate reacts with the hydrochloric acid to give Calcium Chloride and Hydrogen. Fizzing due to Hydrogen gas is given off.)

Preliminary work

I carried out a preliminary experiment using a computer simulation programme to give me an idea about what range of concentrations to use in my real experiment. I used a volume of 20cm³ hydrochloric acid and a mass of 1.00 grams for the marble chips, varying the concentration of the hydrochloric acid each time. I then repeated the preliminary experiment, using the equipment myself, with a range of different concentrations and masses of marble chips, in order to ensure what range of concentrations and mass of marble chips to use. I put my results into a table, and from it I produced a graph, which enabled me to look at, to give me an idea of what concentrations were reasonable to use.

(- Table and graph attached.)

Conclusion

I can see from my graph that the higher the concentration of acid, the steeper the gradient on the graph, therefore the faster the rate of the reaction. Therefore, my prediction has proven to be correct.

Predictions

I predict that as the concentration of hydrochloric acid is increased the faster the rate of reaction will be. If the concentration of hydrochloric acid is decreased the rate of reaction will be slower.  The rate of reaction can be affected by several different factors. Changing these factors can make the rate of reaction increase or decrease in speed.  These variables are concentration, temperature, surface area and catalyst.  In my experiment only concentration will be changed to affect the rate of reaction.  The other variables will stay the same in order to conduct a fair test.  

A reaction occurs when particles collide with each other.  The more concentrated a solution is the more particles there are.  The particles will gain more energy because the frequency of collisions will increase.  Therefore, if the frequency of collisions is increased, the rate of reaction will be increased.  The result of the experiment if the theory is accurate means the collisions between the particles of hydrochloric acid and Calcium Carbonate should occur faster, this means the time taken for the reaction to occur should be faster.  The less concentrated the solution the fewer particles there are; the result of this should be the opposite of the more concentrated solution.

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To know how fast a reaction is going to be you need to know the rate of each reaction.  Rate is a measure of how fast or slow something is.

On graphs – the concentrations with the steepest gradient will have the fastest rate of reaction.

Apparatus

  • A boiling tube.
  • Rubber bung – to put on boiling tube to stop CO   gas produced, from escaping.
  • A gas syringe.
  • A measuring cylinder.
  • A delivery tube (for connection to ...

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