Rate of Chemical Reactions

Increasing reactant concentration raises the number of particles, resulting in more frequent collisions and a faster reaction rate.

Decreasing particle size boosts surface area, allowing for simultaneous collisions and accelerating the reaction rate.

Monitoring a reaction's rate shows how quickly reactants are consumed and products formed. Gas-producing reactions, like the one between zinc and dilute hydrochloric acid, are ideal for tracking rates by measuring gas volumes.

Example Reaction:
Zn + 2HCl → ZnCl2 + H2
Volume of hydrogen gas produced can be tracked over time to graph the reaction rate.