This deep dive covers Measuring Rate of Reaction within Rates & Collision Theory for GCSE Chemistry. Revise Rates & Collision Theory in Rates of Reaction for GCSE Chemistry with 25 exam-style questions and 16 flashcards. This topic appears less often, but it can still be a useful differentiator on mixed-topic papers. It is section 5 of 14 in this topic. Use this deep dive to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
📏 Measuring Rate of Reaction
Rate = Amount of reactant used OR product formed ÷ Time
Common methods:
- Measure gas volume — collect gas in a syringe or over water, record volume at intervals
- Measure mass loss — use a balance to track mass decrease as gas escapes
- Measure time for precipitate — time until a cross disappears under the reaction vessel
- Measure colour change — use a colorimeter for colour intensity
Units for rate: g/s, cm³/s, mol/s. Steeper graph = faster reaction.
Practice questions for Rates & Collision Theory
According to collision theory, which of the following must happen for a chemical reaction to take place?
Explain, using collision theory, why increasing the concentration of a reactant solution increases the rate of reaction.