TOPIC: Investigation of the Effect of Temperature on the Reaction Rate INTRODUCTION: The reaction for this investigation is between

thiosulphate ions and hydrogen ions which follows the equation:S2O32-(aq) + 2H+ SO2 (aq) + H2O (aq) + S (s) As the reaction proceeds sulphur is precipitated and the reaction can be followed by recording the time taken at different temperatures to produce a certain amount of sulphur. This is achieved by determining the time taken for the sulphur precipitate to obscure the symbol written on a piece of white paper and placed beneath the reaction beaker. DATA COLLECTION: Temperature (C) + 273 K [Temperature (K) 0.05K] 302 312 322 332 342 352

Temperature (C) 0.1 C 29 39 49 59 69 79

Time (s) 178 68 30 23 18 10

1/Time (s1 ) 0.0040 0.0147 0.0333 0.0435 0.0556 0.1000

DATA PROCESSING: Rate of reaction = 1/t, where t is the time taken for the symbol to be totally obscured by the precipitate. Rate Equation / Expression Rate = k [Sodium Thiosulphate] [Hydrochloric Acid] While the experiment was proceeding, the concentrations of reactants (sodium thiosulphate and hydrochloric acid) are constant. Therefore in the rate equation above, their concentration can be neglected. Hence; Rate = k Rate = 1 / t = k

Table of calculation of temperature and time k (s-1) 0.0040 0.0147 ln k -5.52 -4.21 T (K) 302 312 1/T (K-1) 3.31 x 10-3 3.21 x 10-3

0.0333 0.0435 0.0556 0.1000

-3.40 -3.13 -2.89 -2.30

322 332 342 352

3.11 x 10-3 3.01 x 10-3 2.92 x 10-3 2.84 x 10-3

The activation energy from the rates of reaction at different temperature can be calculated using the Arrhenius equation. The Arrhenius equation predicts that the rate constant, k, is related to the temperature by: ln k = ln A Ea / RT where: Ea = activation energy R = Gas constant T = thermodynamic temperature in Kelvin A = Arrhenius constant By relating the general form of straight line equation with the Arrhenius equation, we can obtain a result as below; ln k = Ea / R. 1 / T + ln A Y= mX +C [Arrhenius equation] [Straight line equation]

From the above comparison the value of m which is the gradient is equal to Ea / R So, we can calculate the value of the activation energy for the respective reaction. By plotting the Arrhenius - equation graph: m = - 5.60 (-2.00) (3.29 x 10-3) (2.87 x 10-3) = 3.60 4.2 x 10 - 4

= - 8571 K

As discussed earlier: m = Ea / R, where R = 8.312 J K-1 mol-1 Activation energy of the reaction = (- 8571) (8.312) = 71242.2 J mol-1 = 71.24 kJ mol-1 Then the Arrhenius equation can be arranged by taking the exponentials of both sides, since natural logarithms ln and exponentials ex are inverse operations. The resulting equation is:

ln A = ln k + Ea / RT = (-2.30) + (71.24) (1 / 352) = 2.0976 A = e -2.0976 = 0.1228 Therefore; k = A e Ea / RT

at 352 K;

ln k = -2.30

Ea / R = - 8571;

1 / T = 2.84 x 10-3

So k = rate constant for the reaction = (0.1228) e (-8571) (2.84 x 10-3) = 3.2942 x 10-12 CONCLUSION: Rate constant from the straight line graph is 3.294 x 10-12 and the activation energy for this experiment is 71.24 kJ mol-1.

DISCUSSION: 1. As the temperature increases, the time taken to obscure the symbol decreases. 2. The yellow colour precipitate produced (and it increases gradually with time) is sulphur that comes as a result of the reaction between sodium thiosulphate and hydrochloric acid. 3. For a reaction to occur, molecules of reactants must come together and react with at least a certain minimum energy, and their orientations must be right too. The minimum energy is called activation energy. If the molecules of reactants collide with energy at least equal to the activation energy, the collision is successful and products will be form with the condition that the orientations of the colliding molecules are right. At higher temperature, there are more energetic molecules of reactants, so the probability of a successful collision resulting in formation of products increases rapidly with the increase in temperature. As a result, the rate of reaction increases.