Table of contents

1. Intro to General Chemistry3h 48m
2. Atoms & Elements4h 16m
3. Chemical Reactions4h 10m
4. BONUS: Lab Techniques and Procedures1h 38m
5. BONUS: Mathematical Operations and Functions48m
6. Chemical Quantities & Aqueous Reactions3h 53m
7. Gases3h 49m
8. Thermochemistry2h 37m
9. Quantum Mechanics2h 58m
10. Periodic Properties of the Elements3h 9m
11. Bonding & Molecular Structure3h 29m
12. Molecular Shapes & Valence Bond Theory1h 57m
13. Liquids, Solids & Intermolecular Forces2h 23m
14. Solutions3h 1m
15. Chemical Kinetics2h 53m
16. Chemical Equilibrium2h 29m
17. Acid and Base Equilibrium5h 1m
18. Aqueous Equilibrium4h 47m
19. Chemical Thermodynamics1h 50m
20. Electrochemistry2h 42m
21. Nuclear Chemistry2h 36m
22. Organic Chemistry5h 7m
23. Chemistry of the Nonmetals2h 39m
24. Transition Metals and Coordination Compounds3h 16m

15. Chemical Kinetics

Factors Influencing Rates

General Chemistry

15. Chemical Kinetics

Factors Influencing Rates

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Multiple Choice

A chemist tries to burn sulfur in air and notices that it burns very slowly. Chemist then burns sulfur in pure oxygen and observes a brilliant blue flame. Which factor is affecting the reaction rate?

increase in temperature

the presence of a catalyst

increase in reactant concentration

physical state of reactants

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Verified step by step guidance

Consider the chemical reaction: when sulfur burns, it reacts with oxygen to form sulfur dioxide. The reaction can be represented as:

S_{8} (s) + 8 O_{2} (g) \to {SO}_{2} (g)

Understand that the reaction rate is influenced by several factors, including reactant concentration, temperature, presence of a catalyst, and physical state of reactants.

In the scenario described, burning sulfur in pure oxygen increases the concentration of oxygen compared to burning it in air, which contains only about 21% oxygen. This increase in reactant concentration leads to a faster reaction rate.

The physical state of the reactants also plays a role. Sulfur is a solid, and oxygen is a gas. The surface area of sulfur exposed to oxygen can affect the reaction rate. However, the primary factor in this scenario is the concentration of oxygen.

Therefore, the key factor affecting the reaction rate in this case is the increase in reactant concentration, specifically the higher concentration of oxygen when burning sulfur in pure oxygen.