Test the speed that Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is given off during a reaction of Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) and Hydrochloric Acid (HCl).

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Lewis Davies Smith 11L                

Chemistry Coursework - Rates of Reaction

The aim of my experiment is to test the speed that Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is given off during a reaction of Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) and Hydrochloric Acid (HCl), where the concentration of the Hydrochloric acid (HCl) is variable.

The speed of my the reactions will change because of the variable, concentration gradient.

All reactions are affected by Particle Theory. For the particle theory to occur particles need to collide, without colliding particles, there would be no reaction. For a chemical reaction to take place, some bonds in the reactants must be broken. The colliding particles must have enough energy to break these bonds. This minimum amount of energy is called the ‘activation energy’. Only the very fastest moving particles have enough energy to break bonds.

In gases, liquids and in solution, the particles move at a range of speeds. Some are moving very slowly and others are moving very fast. To react, particles must collide with enough energy and in the correct orientation for bonds to be broken.

Particle theory concerns the arrangement of particles in a substance.

For a chemical reaction to occur, reactant particles must collide.

Variables that will increase the rate of reaction:

Temperature - Increasing the temperature of a reaction increases the rate of a reaction. At the higher temperatures reactant particles move faster and collide more often and more violently.

Concentration Gradient - Increasing the concentration of reactants increases the rate of a reaction. This is because there are more particles in the same volume so more collisions are possible every second.

Surface Area - Breaking up solids into smaller pieces increases reaction rate because this increases the total surface area. Increasing the surface area must increase the number of particles of the solid in contact with the other reactant in solution.

Catalyst - Using a catalyst increases the rate of reaction. Catalysts are not used up in an reaction.

 

In my experiment the variable I will use is concentration gradient. I have chosen to use this variable because the concentration of acid is fairly simple to conduct and should provide clear results.

Safety

I will wear safety glasses to protect my eyes from any accidents that may occur. I will have to check the apparatus for any broken pieces, that way, I can avoid injury to myself or avoid a mistake in my experiment through a leak. The most important thing is safety. After checking that everything is safe, I will plan and set up the actual experiment.

Reliability

 I will try to make it as fair as possible by trying to take the most accurate measurements at the most precise times. I will also make sure that the mass of Calcium Carbonate is precise and that in all the experiments done it is the same, or at least very close. I will also make sure that there is the same amount of Hydrochloric Acid in each experiment. If I do this I think my Hypothesis will be accurate.

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Equipment

Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) - different concentrations of 0.5M, 1.0M, 1.5M, and 2.0M.

Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3)

Delivery tube

Bung

Conical flask

Plastic container

Boiling tube

Water (H2O)

Stop clock

Balance

Safety Glasses

Measuring Cylinder

Method -

The experiment I am doing will involve changing the concentration of the hydrochloric acid (HCl) to find out the speed of carbon dioxide during the reactions. My variable that I’m going to use is concentration gradient, therefore I will keep the temperature, surface area, volume of acid and ...

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