Rates Of Reaction Lab Report

Rates of Reaction Lab Design

What is the effect of surface area on rates of reaction, when magnesium is combined with hydrochloric acid to create hydrogen?

Chemical reactions are when bonds between atoms form new molecules. They occur when two or more molecules interact with each other. Substances that react together are reactants, and the ones formed in the reaction are called the products. In the making of new molecules, no atoms are damaged. The overall mass of the reactants end up being the same mass as the products. “Masses are converted in a chemical equation”. An example of a chemical reaction with surface area would be Mg + 2HCl ---> H2 + MgCl2.

This image, perfectly illustrates the collision process between magnesium atoms, and

The reaction will be increased because as explained in the third paragraph, cutting the magnesium strips into smaller pieces increases the amount of collisions. It increases them because when there are more, they are more exposed to other particles and they have more to collide with.

Variables:

Independent: Although the length of the magnesium strips will be controlled. The way they will be inserted into the cylinder wont. In the experiment there will be three trials, in the first one the magnesium strip will be inserted as a whole piece, in the second it will be cut into smaller pieces, and in the third into even smaller pieces.

Dependent: In the experiment, I will measure rate of reaction of the magnesiums surface area. I will measure this with the stopwatch during the experiment. And to keep track of the results, I will annotate the results on my notebook.

Controlled:

What I will control?

How I will control it?

Why do I need to control it?

Amount of Hydrochloric Acid

Every trial, measuring the same amount of hydrochloric acid into each cylinder

This is an important variable to control, because if we pour less acid or more than needed, the final results will not be reliable, and the experiment would be

Put on your Lab Coat, Plastic Gloves and Safety Goggles. And girls, tie your hair.

Clear the table, and only leave necessary materials.

Cut the magnesium ribbon into 3 pieces, 1 cm each.

In the first trial, measure 1.00M of hydrochloric acid into the graduated cylinder.

Then enter your first whole 3cm piece of the magnesium strip into the cylinder. As soon as it starts reacting start the stopwatch. You will know it has started because it will start to bubble.

When the bubbling comes to an end, stop the stopwatch, and annotate your results.

For the second trial, measure again 1.00M of hydrochloric acid into the second graduated cylinder. Then enter the second 3cm magnesium strip, only though this time break it into smaller pieces. By this you will be creating a larger surface area. When it starts reacting start the stopwatch until it stops reacting.

Finally, for the final trial, measure again 1.00M of hydrochloric acid. Enter the third 3cm magnesium strip into the third cylinder, but this time break it into even more smaller pieces, creating an even larger surface area. When it starts reacting make sure to start the stopwatch and to pause it at the