What does the rate of chemical reactions depend on?

The rate of chemical reactions depends on the temperature, concentration of the reactants, size of the particles reacting and whether there are any catalysts present.

When the temperature is increased, the average kinetic energy of the particles present is increased. When the particles have higher kinetic energy, they move faster and are therefore more likely to collide. The increased temperature also leads to more particles having sufficient energy to react.

When the concentration of reactants is increased, there are more collisions as there are more particles in close proximity to each other.

Collisions (reactions) occur at the surface of particles. The smaller the particle size, the more surface area there is. Because there is more surface area, the reaction will take place more quickly.

Catalysts provide an alternate reaction pathway with a lower activation energy than otherwise required. This means that particles do not need as much energy to react when they collide and therefore increases the rate of the reaction.

Answered by Emma F. Chemistry tutor

26505 Views

See similar Chemistry IB tutors

Related Chemistry IB answers

All answers ▸

How are Van der Waals interactions formed between molecules?


0.120g of an ideal gas was introduced into a gas syringe. The volume occupied by the gas at a pressure of 1.02x10^5 Pa and temperature 20 degrees was 49.3 cm^3. Calculate the molar mass of the gas.


Sort the following substances MgO, Na, H2O, H2S, NaCl, in the order of increasing melting temperature.


What is a difference between gas and liquid and solid on a molecular level?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo
Cookie Preferences