Temperature and rate: practical
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain, using the collision theory, how warming or cooling a reactant will affect the rate of a reaction.
Key learning points
- Increasing temperature generally increases rate by boosting the energy and frequency of collisions between particles.
- Cooling a reactant decreases its reaction rate by reducing collision energy and frequency.
Keywords
Collision theory - The collision theory is that particles must collide, and with sufficient energy, in order to react.
Activation energy - The minimum energy that the particles must have in order to react is known as the activation energy.
Rate of reaction - Rate of reaction is the speed with which a chemical reaction takes place.
End-point method - An end-point method is used to measure the progress of a reaction until it has reached completion or a desirable point, e.g. a colour change.
Common misconception
Increasing the temperature increases the rate product is formed, and therefore think a faster reaction produces more product.
Increasing the temperature will make the reaction proceed faster but will not change the amount of product formed. The reactants are the limiting factor, not the temperature.
Teacher tip
Prepare the water baths containing the sodium thiosulfate prior to the lesson starting so the solutions have time to reach the desired temperature.
Equipment
Sodium thiosulfate solution, hydrochloric acid, card with an 'X' on, conical flask, measuring cylinder, ice, beaker, water bath timer, eye protection.
Content guidance
Risk assessment required - equipment
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following factors does not affect the rate of a chemical reaction?
Q2.What happens to the rate of reaction when the temperature is increased?
Q3.What is the minimum energy required for a reaction to occur called?
Q4.What is an end-point method?
Q5.What causes the cross to disappear in the disappearing cross experiment?
Q6.Doing which of the following will increase the rate of a reaction?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What happens to the rate of a chemical reaction when the temperature is increased?
Q2.If the temperature of a reaction increases, what happens to the energy of the particles?
Q3.Which of the following explains why increasing temperature increases the rate of reaction?
Q4.Why does cooling a reactant decrease the rate of a reaction?
Q5.Which of the following statements about temperature and volume of gas produced is correct?
Q6.What effect does increasing the temperature have on the reactant particles?
To help you plan your 11 combined science lesson on: Temperature and rate: practical, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 combined science lesson on: Temperature and rate: practical, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 combined science lessons from the Rate of reaction unit, dive into the full secondary combined science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.