Name: Tia Brooks

REQUIRED PRACTICAL TITLE: INVESTIGATING THE EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON THE RATE OF

REACTION

Aim
A clear brief statement of the purpose of this experiment.
To successfully and practically investigate how the rate of the reaction of sodium thiosulfate with hydrochloric
acid changes as the temperature of the reaction is altered. The equation of the reaction is shown below.
Na2S2O3(aq) + 2HCl(aq) → 2NaCl(aq) + SO2(g) + S(s)
Hypothesis
A clear statement of what will happen in the experiment (relate the independent variable to the dependent variable)
with a detailed explanation of why this will happen.
When the temperature in a reaction is raised the
added 'heat energy' shows itself in the form of
increased particle kinetic energy. In the graph to
the right, two distribution curves are shown for
higher/lower temperatures, T2/T1. It is assumed
that the area under the whole curve is the same
for both temperatures (the same
number/population of molecules). Looking at the
graph, by comparing lower temperature
T1 with higher temperature T2, you can see that as the temperature increases, the peak for the most
probable kinetic energy is reduced. Additionally, more significantly with the rest of the KE distribution, moves
to the right to higher values so more particles have the highest KE values. Therefore, when considering
an activation energy Ea (the minimum KE the particles must have to react via e.g. bond breaking), the fraction
of the population able to react at T1 is given by the blue area. However, at the higher temperature T2, the
fraction with enough KE to react is given by the combined blue area plus the red area. Therefore, because
of the shift in the distribution at the higher temperature T2, a greater fraction of particles has the minimum
KE to react and hence a greater chance of a successful collision happening - reactant molecule bonds
breaking on the route to product formation. Consequently, I predict that as the temperature of the reaction
increases so will the rate of reaction.
Method
A detailed plan of how the investigation will be carried out.
Variables (Independent, dependent and control)
Independent variable –
The different temperatures investigated (room temperature, ~25, ~35, ~45, ~55) °C
Dependant variable –
The rate of reaction – the time it takes for the cross to disappear / solution to go cloudy.
Controlled variables –
a) The volumes of the solutions.
b) The concentrations of the solutions.
c) The size of the cross.
Equipment (List equipment used in the investigation. You could also draw a diagram of how the equipment is set up
– use a pencil and ruler)
 A thermometer (-10 °C to 110 °C)
 A 400 cm3 beaker (for use as a water bath)
 A plastic container with lid*
 2 glass tubes to hold 12–14 cm3 of liquid
 0.05 mol dm–3 (or 40 g dm–3) sodium thiosulfate solution
 1.0 mol dm–3 hydrochloric acid (or 0.5 mol dm–3 sulfuric acid)
 A 10 cm3 measuring cylinder
 A plastic graduated pipette
 A stopwatch
 A sheet of white paper.
 Graph paper.
* To minimise the escape of sulphur dioxide during the experiment, a lid is advised
Procedure (A numbered list describing the steps required to carry out the investigation. Refer to all pieces of
equipment and how they are used)
1) Add approximately 10 cm3 of 1 mol dm–3 hydrochloric acid to the
‘acid’ tube.
2) Next, place this tube into the correct hole in the plastic container
(i.e. the one without the cross).
3) After this use a measuring cylinder to add 10.0 cm3 of 0.05 mol
dm–3 sodium thiosulfate solution to the second tube. Place this
tube into the correct hole in the plastic container (i.e. the one with
the cross) and carefully place a thermometer in this tube.
4) Note the start temperature and then add 1 cm3 of the acid to the
thiosulfate solution and start timing.
5) Look down through the vial from above and record the time for the cross to disappear from view.
6) Record the temperature of the reaction mixture. Pour the cloudy contents of the vial into the sodium
carbonate solution (the ‘stop bath’).
7) Now add water from a very hot water tap (or kettle) to the plastic container. The water should be no
hotter than 55 °C. Add cold water if necessary.
8) Measure another 10.0 cm3 of 0.05 mol dm–3 sodium thiosulfate solution into a clean tube. Insert this
tube into the correct hole in the plastic container (i.e. the one with the cross).
9) Leave the vial to warm up for about 3 minutes.
10) Repeat steps (c) to (e) above. (room temperature, ~25, ~35, ~45, ~55) °C
11) Repeat to obtain results for at least 5 different temperatures in total -
Risk Assessment (State the hazards and risks and what can be done to minimise these risks)

Risk Hazard Precaution

Use of Hydrochloric acid solution is
Hydrochloric corrosive to eyes and skin. It is
Acid / Use of also moderately toxic by
Sodium ingestion and inhalation.
Thiosulfate Sodium thiosulfate solution is a
body tissue irritant
Safety goggles should be worn for the whole
practical, to prevent substances used coming into
contact with the eyes. However, if this does occur
the leading teacher of the practical should be
informed so that an eye washing station can be
used. Additionally, lab coats should be worn the
whole practical and gloves when specified. If any
corrosive substances do touch the skin the infected
area should be washed instantaneously and
meticulously.

Production of Sulfur dioxide gas is a skin and Stop baths should be available to students at all
Sulphur eye irritant. times. These are containers of sodium carbonate
Dioxide Gas solution and phenolphthalein that can neutralize
the acid and sulfur dioxide (immediately if required
during the practical and) after the experiment has
finished. To minimize the escape of sulfur dioxide
during the experiment, a lid is advised. Additionally,
the practical should be conducted in a well-
ventilated area.

Broken Broken glass can result in cuts
glassware to a student and additionally
leaves behind an open wound.
Toxic chemicals could then
enter the students blood
stream through the cut,
causing further damage.
Spillages If any spillages do occur during
the practical, this could result
in falls, toxic substances being
released and an anomaly in
results.
As a precaution, any glassware must be handled
extremely carefully. Test tubes must not be left on
the surface to roll but in a test tube holder instead.
If any glass does break it should be cleared away
immediately and disposed of properly.
In order to prevent this, if there are any spillages,
they should be cleaned up as soon as possible and
a sign should be made to make students aware. As
well as this, containers of any liquids should be
kept on steady surfaces and far from the edge.
Results
Data collected and observations made during practical work. Tables and graph must have suitable labels and units.
Results Table

Initial Final Average Time taken for Rate of reaction =

Temperature (C) Temperature (C) Temperature (C) cross to 1000/time
disappear (s)
Room temperature 25 25 100 10
(25)
30 30 30 85 11.8
35 33 34 65 15.4
40 36 38 40 25.0
52 48 50 30 33.3

Graph (attach to write-up)

The graph is attached to this writeup.

Anomalies
There were no anomalies.
Conclusions:
1) The relationship shown is that as the average temperature increases, the rate of the reaction becomes
faster.
2) An increase in temperature typically increases the rate of reaction. An increase in temperature will raise
the average kinetic energy of the reactant molecules. Therefore, the particles will be moving around
quicker resulting in an increase in total collision frequency. The additional energy from the rise in
temperature means that more of the molecules have enough energy (the same as or more than the
activation energy) to have successful collisions (break bonds); the collision energy of the system
increases. Hence, the rate of reaction becomes faster.
3) As the temperature of a reaction increases so does the average kinetic energy of the reactant molecules
and hence the collision energy of the system. Therefore, the particles will be moving around quicker
resulting in an increase in total collision frequency. The additional energy from the rise in temperature
means that a significantly higher amount of the molecules has enough energy (the same as or more than
the activation energy) to carry out fruitful/successful collisions (break bonds); the collision energy of the
system increases. Hence, the rate of reaction becomes significantly faster.
4) Most reaction rates change over time, as the concentrations of both the products and the reactants are
changing. The initial rate of reaction is simply the instantaneous rate of a reaction at time zero. Therefore,
we use the (more accurate) initial rate of reaction.
5) We use 1000/time as it is proportional to the rate and can be used as a fixed amount of sulphur solid is
being used each time.
6) Percentage Apparatus Error

Thermometer = 2 x 100 x (1/18)

= 11.1 (3sf)
Measuring cylinder = 100 x (0.1/10)
= 1%
1cm3 syringe = 100 x (0.1/1)
= 10%
Stopwatch = 100 x (1/20)
= 5%
Total = 11.1 + 1 + 10 + 5
Total = 27.1%

7) The syringe is not good enough.

8) In order to improve reliability, repeats of the experiment should be done.
9) There could be a better resolution for the acid volume.
References:
 2017. Rate of Reaction of Sodium Thiosulfate and Hydrochloric Acid.
https://www.flinnsci.com/api/library/Download/78da6c8204aa48a294bd9a51844543ad (Accessed
9/3/19).
 2018. Sodium Thiosulphate and Hydrochloric Acid. https://www.ukessays.com/essays/chemistry/test-
affected-by-changing-the-concentration.php (Accessed 9/3/19).

 2017. Factors affecting the Speed-Ratesof Chemical Reactions.

http://www.docbrown.info/page03/3_31rates3d.htm (Accessed 9/3/19).

 2017. Required Activity 3. Investigation of how the rate of a reaction changes with temperature.
https://chemrevise.files.wordpress.com/2018/04/practical-guide-aqa1.pdf (Accessed 9/3/19).

 2015. INVESTIGATION OF HOW THE RATE OF A REACTION CHANGES WITH TEMPERATURE.

https://secondaryscience4all.wordpress.com/2015/06/06/3-investigation-of-how-the-rate-of-a-reaction-
changes-with-temperature/ (Accessed 9/3/19).