Sodium Thiosulphate Investigation

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Problem.

When hydrochloric acid is added to clear sodium thiosulphate solution the mixture turns cloudy and you can no longer see through it. Investigate any one factor, which influences the rate of reaction.


Background Knowledge.

If a chemical reaction occurs, the particles, which combine need, to meet up with each other, in other words they collide, so they can swap or share electrons.

A chemical reaction can only occur between the particles when they:

1) Collide with each other.

2) Have enough energy to react. If there is little energy they will bounce off each other.

Diagram on the next page to show particles colliding.

What Factors affect the rate of reaction?

Increasing Temperature:

This means that the particles will move faster, therefore the collisions will be harder, as there is more energy. The minimum energy of a collision for a reaction to happen is called the activation energy.

Increasing concentration:

By increasing the concentration we increase the rate of reaction. If you increase the concentration if acid, there are fewer water molecules, resulting in more useful collisions, so reaction happens faster.

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Using a catalyst:

This speeds up the reaction and does not be used up.

Surface area:

When reactions are broken into smaller pieces it increases the rate of reaction.


Variables.

There are 4 variables that I need to consider when carrying out this experiment:

Temperature:

The temperature will be kept the same during this experiment. It will remain at room temperature.

Concentration:

We will change the concentration of the sodium thiosulphate. The volume of acid will remain the same.

Catalyst:

We will not be using a catalyst for ...

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