Chem Paper 1

Question 1

How does the concentration of hydrochloric acid affect the rate of reaction with magnesium?

Answer 1

Increasing the concentration of hydrochloric acid increases the number of H+ ions per unit volume, leading to a higher frequency of collisions between H+ ions and magnesium particles. As a result, the rate of reaction increases, producing hydrogen gas more rapidly.

The reaction can be monitored by measuring the volume of gas produced over time. A higher concentration results in a steeper gradient on a volume-time graph, indicating a faster reaction rate.

Question 2

What theory explains the relationship between reaction rate and collision frequency?

Answer 2

This relationship is consistent with collision theory, which states that reaction rate depends on the frequency and energy of collisions.