Rates of ReactionDefinitions

Key Definitions

Part of Factors Affecting RateGCSE Chemistry

This definitions covers Key Definitions within Factors Affecting Rate for GCSE Chemistry. Revise Factors Affecting Rate in Rates of Reaction for GCSE Chemistry with 20 exam-style questions and 18 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 7 of 13 in this topic. Make sure you can use the exact wording confidently, because definition marks are often lost through vague language.

Topic position

Section 7 of 13

Practice

20 questions

Recall

18 flashcards

📖 Key Definitions

Concentration: The amount of a substance dissolved in a given volume of solution (measured in mol/dm³). Higher concentration means more solute particles per unit volume.

Surface area: The total area of a solid that is exposed and available to react. Smaller particles have a greater surface area-to-volume ratio.

Catalyst: A substance that increases the rate of a reaction by providing an alternative reaction pathway with a lower activation energy. A catalyst is not consumed in the reaction and can be reused.

Enzyme: A biological catalyst — a protein molecule that speeds up reactions in living organisms. Enzymes are specific to one reaction and have an optimum temperature and pH.

Keep building this topic

Read this section alongside the surrounding pages in Factors Affecting Rate. That gives you the full topic sequence instead of a single isolated revision point.

Practice Questions for Factors Affecting Rate

Which of the following factors does NOT affect the rate of a chemical reaction?

  • A. Temperature
  • B. Concentration of reactants
  • C. Colour of the reactants
  • D. Surface area of a solid reactant
1 markfoundation

Explain, in terms of particles, why increasing temperature increases the rate of reaction.

3 marksstandard

Quick Recall Flashcards

What are the four factors that affect rate of reaction?
Temperature, Concentration, Surface area, Catalyst
What are enzymes?
Biological catalysts - specific and work at certain temperatures

Want to test your knowledge?

PrepWise has 20 exam-style questions and 18 flashcards for Factors Affecting Rate — with adaptive difficulty and instant feedback.

Join Alpha