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Zainab Ahmed
Ms. Laura Felosak
IB Chemistry 3A
5 June 2015
Factors Affecting Rate of Reaction: Effect of Concentration on the Iodine Clock
Background Information:
Chemistry is a very large subject, but everyday, it impacts our lives. There are chemical
reactions happening everywhere, inside and outside of everything. One of the chemical reactions
that affect our lives are reactions of the rate of reaction. This affects humans in many different
manners, like health. Because of this, it is important to understand how different factors affect
rate of reaction.
There are a couple different factors that affect rate of reaction. Depending on what it is or
how much is present in a chemical reaction, these factors could either increase the rate of
reaction or slow it down. These factors are: concentration of reactants, pressure, surface area of
solid reactants, temperature, and a catalyst (1). The only way any of these factors are able to
affect the rate of reaction is because of the Collision Theory, which states that for a reaction to
occur the particles must collide; however, if these collisions are to result in a reaction, two
conditions must be fulfilled (1). These conditions are that a collision must involve more than a
certain minimum amount of energy, and that the molecules must collide with the correct
orientation (1).
The purpose of this experiment was to provide a way to help explain how one of these
factors affected the rate of reaction. The factor being analyzed here is how the concentration of

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reactants impacts the rate of reaction. Therefore, the research question how does an increase in
concentration of a Potassium Iodate affect the rate of reaction in the Iodine Clock reaction?
The hypothesis created was: if the concentration of the reactant Potassium Iodate is
increased in the Iodine Clock experiment, then the rate of reaction will increase because by
providing more reactant particles to the other reactant, their chances of colliding under the
correct conditions increases, therefore increasing the rate of reaction. This is the hypothesis
because it is known that when allowing more particles of one reactant into a chemical reaction,
the chances of collisions that produce a reaction increase, according to the collision theory (1). If
the chances of these collisions increase, then this means that it would take less time for the
chemical reaction to occur, therefore also increasing the rate of reaction of experiment.
To help easily depict results, the Iodine Clock reaction was chosen. It was chosen because
it involves a color change after a specific time that indicates that the reactant particles have
collided under the proper conditions and is resulting in a chemical reaction. In this experiment,
the effect of the concentration of reactant was analyzed by measuring the reaction time of
varying concentrations of a single reactant in the Iodine Clock. Then, using the data gained, the
reaction rates were calculated and then analyzed to show how the concentration affected the rate
of reaction.
Research Question:
How does an increase in concentration of a Potassium Iodate affect the rate of reaction in
the Iodine Clock reaction?

Hypothesis:

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If the concentration of the reactant Potassium Iodate in the Iodine Clock experiment is
increased, then the rate of reaction will increase because by providing more of a reactant
particles to the other reactant, their chances of reacting under the correct conditions increases,
therefore increasing the rate of reaction.
Independent Variable:
Concentration of Potassium Iodate
0.05 g
0.10 g
0.20 g
0.30 g
0.40 g
These were the chosen increments of concentration increase because a more visible and
obvious reaction was needed to determine the reaction time of the Iodine Clock. To really see
how the reactions times differed, larger ranges of concentration increase was needed, but not so
big that the reaction was occurring too quickly to record.
Dependent Variable:
Rate of Reaction of the Iodine Clock
Change in Concentration =
Time

Reaction Time
The reaction time will vary depending on the concentration of Potassium Iodate
in the Iodine Clock

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Control:
Amount of Sodium MetaBisulfite: 0.38 g
This amount stayed constant because the change in concentration of Potassium
Iodate and how it reacted with Sodium MetaBisulfite was being analyzed. Changing this
amount would cause the data to be faulty and would alter the experiment by increasing or
decreasing the rate of reaction as well. This value was regulated by using a gram scale
and carefully measuring out the desired amount.
Amount of Water: 56 mL total in a large test tube
The amount of water in the experiment stayed constant because altering the
amount would cause a change in the data and interfere with the experiment by causing
accidental dilution of the chemicals. This value was regulated by using different sizes of
graduated cylinders to ensure the exact desired amount was put into the experiment.
Amount of Starch: 1.0 g
The amount of starch stayed constant because changing the amount of starch
would cause the reaction to appear different in physical appearance (ie. it would change
the color of the reaction or more, or would cause a stronger response to a smaller change
in concentration). This value was regulated by using a gram scale and carefully
measuring out the desired amount.

Constant Variable:
Temperature
The temperature was kept constant to ensure no other factor affected the rate of
reaction.

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Catalyst
There was no catalyst present so no other factor could affect the rate of reaction.

Surface Area
The surface area of all the controlled reactants was kept the same so the factor of
surface area wouldnt affect the rate of reaction.
Materials:
Potassium Iodide (5.00 g)
Sodium Metabisulfite (2.00 g)
Test tubes (5x small)
Test Tubes (5x large)
Starch (6.00 g)
Water
Beaker (6x 500 mL)
Beaker (1x 100 mL)
Graduated Cylinder (1x 10 mL)
Test Tube Holder
Graduated Cylinder (1x 100 mL)
Gram Scale
Yellow scoop
Dropper
Stirring rod

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Procedure:
First Concentration: 0.05 M
1. The small five test tubes were set up in the test tube holder, and the each of the
larger test tubes was put in five 500 mL beakers.
2. Then the small test tubes were filled with 8 mL of water each. This was measured
using the 10 mL graduated cylinder.
3. The larger test tubes were each filled with 30 mL of water using the 50 mL
beaker. Caution was advised at this stage, as the larger test tubes in the beakers were
more likely to fall over.
4. Next, 0.05 M of Potassium Iodate was measured out from its bottle using the
yellow scoop and the gram scale. This meant that exactly 0.53 g was measured out.
5. Once this was measured out, in the small 50 mL beaker, 50 mL of water was
measured out. The measure amount of Potassium Iodate was then poured into the beaker
of water and mixed with the stirring rod.
6. Then, 10 mL of the resulting acid was measured and poured into each of the five
large test tubes. This completed solution in the large test tubes was then called Solution
A.
7. Exactly 0.38 g of Sodium Metabisulfite was measured out from its bottle using the
yellow spoon.
8. Once this amount was measured out, the 10 mL graduated cylinder was filled with
10 mL of water.
9. The measured amount of Sodium Metabisulfite was then added to the water and
mixed using the stirring rod. Once this was completed, 2 mL of the resulting acid was
measured out and poured into each of the five small test tubes in the test tube rack.
10. Then, exactly 1 g of starch was measured out using the yellow spoon. Once the
small 50 mL beaker was filled with 30 mL of water, this amount of starch was poured in.
The solution was then mixed using the stirring rod.

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11. After, 6 mL of the starch solution was poured into each of the five small test tubes
in the test tube rack, completing Solution B.
12. Then, one by one, Solution B was poured into Solution A, each small test tube for
the large test tube. The stopwatch was started the moment the two solutions mixed, and
was stopped the moment the reaction had completely changed color. The reaction time
was then recorded.
Second Concentration: 0.1 M
13. The small five test tubes were set up in the test tube holder, and the each of the
larger test tubes was put in five 500 mL beakers.
14. Then the small test tubes were filled with 8 mL of water each. This was measured
using the 10 mL graduated cylinder.
15. The larger test tubes were each filled with 30 mL of water using the 50 mL
beaker. Caution was advised at this stage, as the larger test tubes in the beakers were
more likely to fall over.
16. Next, 0.1 M of Potassium Iodate was measured out from its bottle using the
yellow scoop and the gram scale. This meant that exactly 1.07 g was measured out.
17. Once this was measured out, in the small 50 mL beaker, 50 mL of water was
measured out. The measure amount of Potassium Iodate was then poured into the beaker
of water and mixed with the stirring rod.
18. Then, 10 mL of the resulting acid was measured and poured into each of the five
large test tubes. This completed solution in the large test tubes was then called Solution
A.
19. Exactly 0.38 g of Sodium Metabisulfite was measured out from its bottle using the
yellow spoon.
20. Once this amount was measured out, the 10 mL graduated cylinder was filled with
10 mL of water.

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21. The measured amount of Sodium Metabisulfite was then added to the water and
mixed using the stirring rod. Once this was completed, 2 mL of the resulting acid was
measured out and poured into each of the five small test tubes in the test tube rack.
22. Then, exactly 1 g of starch was measured out using the yellow spoon. Once the
small 50 mL beaker was filled with 30 mL of water, this amount of starch was poured in.
The solution was then mixed using the stirring rod.
23. After, 6 mL of the starch solution was poured into each of the five small test tubes
in the test tube rack, completing Solution B.
24. Then, one by one, Solution B was poured into Solution A, each small test tube for
the large test tube. The stopwatch was started the moment the two solutions mixed, and
was stopped the moment the reaction had completely changed color. The reaction time
was then recorded.
Third Concentration: 0.2 M
25. The small five test tubes were set up in the test tube holder, and the each of the
larger test tubes was put in five 500 mL beakers.
26. Then the small test tubes were filled with 8 mL of water each. This was measured
using the 10 mL graduated cylinder.
27. The larger test tubes were each filled with 30 mL of water using the 50 mL
beaker. Caution was advised at this stage, as the larger test tubes in the beakers were
more likely to fall over.
28. Next, 0.2 M of Potassium Iodate was measured out from its bottle using the
yellow scoop and the gram scale. This meant that exactly 2.14 g was measured out.
29. Once this was measured out, in the small 50 mL beaker, 50 mL of water was
measured out. The measure amount of Potassium Iodate was then poured into the beaker
of water and mixed with the stirring rod.

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30. Then, 10 mL of the resulting acid was measured and poured into each of the five
large test tubes. This completed solution in the large test tubes was then called Solution
A.
31. Exactly 0.38 g of Sodium Metabisulfite was measured out from its bottle using the
yellow spoon.
32. Once this amount was measured out, the 10 mL graduated cylinder was filled with
10 mL of water.
33. The measured amount of Sodium Metabisulfite was then added to the water and
mixed using the stirring rod. Once this was completed, 2 mL of the resulting acid was
measured out and poured into each of the five small test tubes in the test tube rack.
34. Then, exactly 1 g of starch was measured out using the yellow spoon. Once the
small 50 mL beaker was filled with 30 mL of water, this amount of starch was poured in.
The solution was then mixed using the stirring rod.
35. After, 6 mL of the starch solution was poured into each of the five small test tubes
in the test tube rack, completing Solution B.
36. Then, one by one, Solution B was poured into Solution A, each small test tube for
the large test tube. The stopwatch was started the moment the two solutions mixed, and
was stopped the moment the reaction had completely changed color. The reaction time
was then recorded.
Fourth Concentration: 0.3 M
37. The small five test tubes were set up in the test tube holder, and the each of the
larger test tubes was put in five 500 mL beakers.
38. Then the small test tubes were filled with 8 mL of water each. This was measured
using the 10 mL graduated cylinder.
39. The larger test tubes were each filled with 30 mL of water using the 50 mL
beaker. Caution was advised at this stage, as the larger test tubes in the beakers were
more likely to fall over.

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40. Next, 0.3 M of Potassium Iodate was measured out from its bottle using the
yellow scoop and the gram scale. This meant that exactly 3.21 g was measured out.
41. Once this was measured out, in the small 50 mL beaker, 50 mL of water was
measured out. The measure amount of Potassium Iodate was then poured into the beaker
of water and mixed with the stirring rod.
42. Then, 10 mL of the resulting acid was measured and poured into each of the five
large test tubes. This completed solution in the large test tubes was then called Solution
A.
43. Exactly 0.38 g of Sodium Metabisulfite was measured out from its bottle using the
yellow spoon.
44. Once this amount was measured out, the 10 mL graduated cylinder was filled with
10 mL of water.
45. The measured amount of Sodium Metabisulfite was then added to the water and
mixed using the stirring rod. Once this was completed, 2 mL of the resulting acid was
measured out and poured into each of the five small test tubes in the test tube rack.
46. Then, exactly 1 g of starch was measured out using the yellow spoon. Once the
small 50 mL beaker was filled with 30 mL of water, this amount of starch was poured in.
The solution was then mixed using the stirring rod.
47. After, 6 mL of the starch solution was poured into each of the five small test tubes
in the test tube rack, completing Solution B.
48. Then, one by one, Solution B was poured into Solution A, each small test tube for
the large test tube. The stopwatch was started the moment the two solutions mixed, and
was stopped the moment the reaction had completely changed color. The reaction time
was then recorded.
Fifth Concentration: 0.4 M
49. The small five test tubes were set up in the test tube holder, and the each of the
larger test tubes was put in five 500 mL beakers.

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50. Then the small test tubes were filled with 8 mL of water each. This was measured
using the 10 mL graduated cylinder.
51. The larger test tubes were each filled with 30 mL of water using the 50 mL
beaker. Caution was advised at this stage, as the larger test tubes in the beakers were
more likely to fall over.
52. Next, 0.4 M of Potassium Iodate was measured out from its bottle using the
yellow scoop and the gram scale. This meant that exactly 4.28 g was measured out.
53. Once this was measured out, in the small 50 mL beaker, 50 mL of water was
measured out. The measure amount of Potassium Iodate was then poured into the beaker
of water and mixed with the stirring rod.
54. Then, 10 mL of the resulting acid was measured and poured into each of the five
large test tubes. This completed solution in the large test tubes was then called Solution
A.
55. Exactly 0.38 g of Sodium Metabisulfite was measured out from its bottle using the
yellow spoon.
56. Once this amount was measured out, the 10 mL graduated cylinder was filled with
10 mL of water.
57. The measured amount of Sodium Metabisulfite was then added to the water and
mixed using the stirring rod. Once this was completed, 2 mL of the resulting acid was
measured out and poured into each of the five small test tubes in the test tube rack.
58. Then, exactly 1 g of starch was measured out using the yellow spoon. Once the
small 50 mL beaker was filled with 30 mL of water, this amount of starch was poured in.
The solution was then mixed using the stirring rod.
59. After, 6 mL of the starch solution was poured into each of the five small test tubes
in the test tube rack, completing Solution B.
60. Then, one by one, Solution B was poured into Solution A, each small test tube for
the large test tube. The stopwatch was started the moment the two solutions mixed, and

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was stopped the moment the reaction had completely changed color. The reaction time
was then recorded.

Data:
Raw Data:
Table One: The time it took for each reaction to occur was recorded for each of the five trials
from each group of concentration.
Concentration of Potassium
Iodate

0.05 g

Trial #

Recorded Time for Reaction to

Occur ( + 0.01 secs)

Trial #1

97.50

Trial #2

70.07

Trial #3

71.82

Trial #4

136.29

Trial #5

65.30

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0.10 g

0.20 g

0.30 g

0.40 g

Processed Data:

Trial #1

23.36

Trial #2

33.50

Trial #3

36.35

Trial #4

33.43

Trial #5

35.80

Trial #1

20.95

Trial #2

22.25

Trial #3

23.63

Trial #4

20.03

Trial #5

17.95

Trial #1

13.26

Trial #2

16.81

Trial #3

11.17

Trial #4

12.56

Trial #5

10.16

Trial #1

3.04

Trial #2

3.89

Trial #3

5.95

Trial #4

5.20

Trial #5

6.00

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Table Two: The average reaction time was calculated for each concentration group, and then
using that information, the rate of reaction was calculated.
Concentration of
Potassium Iodate

Average Reaction Time (secs)

Rate of Reaction (g/sec)

0.05 g

88.19 (+48.10/-22.89)

0.00056

0.10 g

32.41 (+3.94/-9.05)

0.00030

0.20 g

20.96 (+2.67/-3.01)

0.00954

0.30 g

12.79 (+4.02/-2.63)

0.02345

0.40 g

4.81 (+1.19/-1.77)

0.08316

Sample Calculation
Average Reaction Time: Concentration Group 0.40 g of Potassium Iodate
(Trial 1 Reaction Time +Trial 2 Reaction Time +Trial 3 Reaction Time + Trial 4
Reaction Time + Trial 5 Reaction Time)/ 5 = Average Reaction Time
(3.04 secs + 3.89 secs + 5.95 secs + 5.20 secs + 6.00 secs) / 5 = 4.81 seconds
Rate of Reaction: Concentration Group 0.40 g of Potassium Iodate
(Concentration Group/ Average Reaction Time) = Rate of Reaction
(0.40 g/ 4.81 secs)= 0.08316 g/secs
Graph One: The concentration of the Potassium Iodate versus the calculated average reaction
time using the processed data.

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Conclusion:
The data gathered from this experiment about how an increase in the concentration of
Potassium Iodate would affect the reaction rate of the Iodine Clock, supported the hypothesis. It
was found that as the concentration of the reactant particles increased, the time it took for the
reaction to occur decreased, therefore increasing the rate of reaction. The hypothesis stated that if
the concentration of the reactant Potassium Iodate is increased in the Iodine Clock experiment is
increased, then the rate of reaction will increase because by providing more reactant particles to
the other reactant, their chances of colliding under the correct conditions increases, therefore
increasing the rate of reaction.
In this case, the Particle Collision theory is being tested, or more specifically, one of the
factors that impact the Collision theory and how it changes the rate of reaction. The experiment
tests how concentration affects the rate at which a reaction occurs, the reaction being the Iodine

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Clock, and changing factor being the Potassium Iodate. So, different concentrations were put into
the same Iodine Clock, and the results were observed to deduce that an increase in concentration
of a reactant increases the rate of reaction. This is because as the concentration of Potassium
Iodate is increased, the number of particles in the reaction are increased in the same volume of
space allowing a rise in the number of collisions occurring within the reaction.
The hypothesis is also supported by Graph One. It shows that the relationship between
the concentration of the Potassium Iodate and the average time the reaction took to occur is
indirectly related. This is proved by the fact that the graph of these variables results in a linear
line that runs near to the origin, and is truly a line of best fit because the R2 value is 0.833 which
is close to 1. This means that there is a strong correlation between the two variables and that the
data is also quite precise. Therefore, the collected data and the resulting graphs both support the
hypothesis.

Evaluation:
Should this experiment be repeated, it should be repeated with caution. If any
measurements or calculations are imprecise, then the experiment will be defective and not
produce proper results.
This experiment is quite strong, and does not have too many weaknesses. It was a full
5x5 experiment, with a total of 25 trials carried out. Despite the large numbers, it was not too
difficult to carry out. There is only main weakness in this experiment. It is that it is quite time

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consuming, because all the measurements in this experiment need to be as precise as possible. It
can also become time consuming because the trials need to be carried out one at a time to ensure
that no systematic errors have been made, so it is recommended that proper time be allotted for
carrying this experiment out.
If anything in this lab could be changed, it would be the increments by which the
concentration of the Potassium Iodate was increased. These new increments could be 0.2 M, 0.4
M, 0.6 M, 0.8 M, and 1.0 M. Since it was observed that the rate of reaction was still increasing
with a concentration of 0.4 M of Potassium Iodate, larger increments could be utilized to test to
see if the rate of reaction would still increase, as Collision theory says it will.

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Works Cited:
(1) Owen, S. (2011). Chemistry for the IB diploma. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.