Rates of ReactionDeep Dive
The Four Factors That Affect Rate
Part of Factors Affecting Rate — GCSE Chemistry
This deep dive covers The Four Factors That Affect Rate 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 2 of 13 in this topic. Use this deep dive to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 2 of 13
Practice
20 questions
Recall
18 flashcards
🔬 The Four Factors That Affect Rate
🌡️ 1. TEMPERATURE — Higher = Faster
Why it works:
- Particles have more kinetic energy
- Particles move faster → more frequent collisions
- More particles have energy ≥ activation energy
- Both effects increase successful collisions
🧪 2. CONCENTRATION — Higher = Faster
Why it works:
- More particles in the same volume
- Particles are closer together
- More frequent collisions
- More successful collisions per second
For gases: Increasing PRESSURE has the same effect
🔨 3. SURFACE AREA — Larger = Faster
Why it works:
- More particles are exposed to the other reactant
- More collisions can happen at once
- Powders react faster than lumps
Same mass, but powder has much more exposed surface
⚡ 4. CATALYSTS — Speed up without being used up
Why it works:
- Provides an alternative reaction pathway
- With a lower activation energy
- More particles now have enough energy to react
- Catalyst is unchanged at the end — can be reused