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Rates of Reaction: Collision Theory and Measuring Rate - Worksheets, Questions and Revision

10 original exam-style questions - 3 pages of questions with a full mark scheme - free printable PDF.

This topic is chapter 10 of IGCSE Chemistry Practice Book.

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GCSE · Chemistry

2.10 Rates of Reaction: Collision Theory and Measuring Rate

EDEXCEL 4CH1 · Calculator allowed · about 45 minutes
Total Marks
Name: _______________________________    Date: ____ / ____ / ______
Answer ALL questions. Show all your working.
1
A student repeats the reaction of sodium thiosulfate and hydrochloric acid three times at the same concentration and records times for the cross to disappear: 32.0 s, 28.5 s, 30.5 s. Calculate the mean time and state one simple reason for repeating measurements.
(Total for Question 1 is 4 marks)
2
A student measures gas volume from a reaction and obtains a straight-line section on the volume-time graph between 40 s and 70 s. The volume at 40 s is 36.0 cm3 and at 70 s is 63.0 cm3. Calculate the rate during this section in cm3 s-1 and give the unit in final answer.
(Total for Question 2 is 2 marks)
3
Sketch and describe the expected shape of a graph showing mass of flask plus contents against time for the marble chips and dilute acid experiment, starting at time zero when acid is added.
(Total for Question 3 is 3 marks)
4
Data from a loss of mass experiment are: time 0 s: mass 52.00 g; 30 s: 51.60 g; 60 s: 51.35 g. Calculate the mean rate of mass loss between 0 s and 60 s in grams per second. Show working and give answer to 3 significant figures.
(Total for Question 4 is 3 marks)
5
A student records the volume of gas produced every 15 seconds and plots a volume-time graph. Explain how the initial rate of reaction is determined from the graph and what it represents physically.
(Total for Question 5 is 2 marks)
6
Explain how increasing the temperature from 20 degrees C to 50 degrees C increases reaction rate in terms of both collision frequency and collision energy.
(Total for Question 6 is 2 marks)
7
A student investigates the reaction of marble chips (calcium carbonate) with dilute hydrochloric acid and measures the loss of mass every 30 seconds using a balance. Describe two control variables the student should keep constant to make the test fair, and explain why each must be controlled.
(Total for Question 7 is 3 marks)
8
In the disappearing cross experiment, sodium thiosulfate reacts with hydrochloric acid to produce a cloudy mixture. Explain how the time taken for the cross to disappear depends on particle collisions, and suggest one way to make the reaction faster.
(Total for Question 8 is 3 marks)
9
Explain how a catalyst increases the rate of a reaction, using collision theory language but do not draw an energy profile diagram.
(Total for Question 9 is 4 marks)
10
Explain, with reference to collision theory, how increasing concentration of acid affects the rate of the reaction between hydrochloric acid and magnesium ribbon in a gas syringe experiment. In your answer include a clear chain of reasoning linking concentration to collision frequency, probability of successful collisions and observed rate.
(Total for Question 10 is 6 marks)
Mark scheme · 2.10 Rates of Reaction: Collision Theory and Measuring Rate

Question 1

  • M1 adds times: 32.0 + 28.5 + 30.5 = 91.0 s
  • M1 divides by 3 to find mean = 30.333... s
  • A1 gives mean time = 30.3 s cao to 3 s.f.
  • B1 states reason: to improve reliability by reducing effect of random error or anomalies
  • Answer: Mean = (32.0 + 28.5 + 30.5) / 3 = 30.3 s; repeating improves reliability and reduces the effect of random error

Question 2

  • M1 calculates change in volume 63.0 - 36.0 = 27.0 cm3 and change in time 30 s
  • A1 gives rate = 0.90 cm3 s-1 cao with unit
  • Answer: Rate = 27.0 cm3 / 30 s = 0.90 cm3 s-1

Question 3

  • B1 sketch: steep initial downward slope that becomes less steep and levels off towards a horizontal line
  • B1 description: mass decreases over time as CO2 gas is lost, rate is fastest at the start and slows as reactants are used up
  • B1 explain leveling: graph levels off when reaction is nearly complete and mass stops changing
  • Answer: Graph: mass falls quickly at first (steep negative slope) then the slope becomes less steep and the curve levels off to horizontal as reaction finishes

Question 4

  • M1 calculates change in mass: 52.00 - 51.35 = 0.65 g
  • M1 divides by time interval 60 s to find rate
  • A1 gives mean rate = 0.0108 g s-1 cao to 3 s.f. as 0.0108 g s-1
  • Answer: Mean rate = 0.65 g / 60 s = 0.0108 g s-1 (3 s.f.)

Question 5

  • B1 initial rate found by drawing a tangent at time zero and finding its gradient (change in volume / change in time)
  • B1 physically represents the rate when reactant concentrations are at their initial values, the fastest rate
  • Answer: Draw a tangent at t = 0 and calculate its gradient (delta volume / delta time); it represents how fast gas is produced at the start when reactant concentrations are highest

Question 6

  • B1 higher temperature gives particles more kinetic energy so they move faster and collide more often
  • B1 higher energy means a larger proportion of collisions have energy ≥ activation energy, so more successful collisions
  • Answer: Raising temperature increases particle speed so collisions are more frequent, and increases collision energy so a greater fraction exceed the activation energy, raising the rate

Question 7

  • B1 control the mass or surface area of marble chips, to ensure the amount of reactive solid is the same
  • B1 control concentration and volume of acid, to ensure the number of acid particles available is the same
  • B1 control temperature, to prevent temperature changes affecting collision frequency and energy
  • Answer: Keep marble chip mass or particle size constant so the amount of solid is the same; keep acid concentration and volume constant so reactant quantity is constant; keep temperature constant so collision energy is unchanged

Question 8

  • B1 disappearance time depends on rate at which reactant particles collide to form cloudy product so more frequent successful collisions give faster clouding
  • B1 suggestion: increase temperature or increase concentration or use smaller particle size if solids present
  • B1 link: increasing temperature or concentration raises collision frequency and energy so time is reduced
  • Answer: The cross disappears faster when particles collide more often or with more energy; increasing temperature or concentration will increase collision frequency and energy and so speed the reaction

Question 9

  • B1 states that a catalyst provides an alternative reaction pathway
  • B1 states that the alternative pathway has a lower activation energy so more collisions are successful
  • B1 links to collision theory: with lower activation energy a larger proportion of collisions have sufficient energy to react
  • B1 may state that the catalyst is not used up at the end of the reaction
  • Answer: A catalyst provides an alternative pathway with lower activation energy so a larger fraction of collisions are successful, increasing the rate; the catalyst is not consumed

Question 10

  • Level 1 (1-2): Basic statements about concentration and rate with little or no reference to collision theory or lacking links between ideas
  • Level 2 (3-4): Some correct chemistry and partial chain of reasoning: states that higher concentration gives more particles and more collisions, with limited explanation of why collisions are more likely to be successful
  • Level 3 (5-6): A full, logical chain using collision theory: increasing concentration increases particle number per unit volume, raising collision frequency; explains that this increases the number of collisions per second and, therefore, the number of collisions with energy >= activation energy, so the measured gas production rate increases; may mention units and that magnesium is solid so collisions occur at the surface
  • Indicative content:
    • Increasing acid concentration increases the number of acid particles per unit volume
    • More particles per unit volume means a higher collision frequency between acid particles and magnesium surface atoms
    • Higher collision frequency increases the number of collisions per second that could lead to reaction
    • A larger number of collisions raises the number of successful collisions per second, so the rate of hydrogen gas production increases
    • For a solid magnesium ribbon the active collisions occur at the surface, so concentration affects how often acid particles strike the metal surface
    • Clear linking sentences that show how the observed increase in slope on a volume-time graph or increased gradient from mass loss follows from more successful collisions

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