Rates of Reaction

• What does the rate of chemical reactions refer to?

  The speed of reactants turning into products
• Why is it important to measure the rate of a reaction?

  To understand how fast reactants are used or products formed
• How can we measure the rate of a reaction?

  By measuring reactants used or products formed
• What are the two equations for calculating the rate of reaction?

  Reactants used/time or products formed/time
• What units can be used to measure quantities in the rate of reaction?

  Grams or cm cubed
• How does the rate of reaction change over time?

  • Starts fast with many reactants
  • Slows down as reactants are used up
• How can we visualize the rate of reaction on a graph?

  • Time on x-axis
  • Mass of reactant or volume of product on y-axis
  • Reactant mass decreases, product volume increases over time