Factors Affect The Rate Of Reaction

Factors Affecting the Rate of Reaction
There are some factors that directly affect the rate of reaction and change the way a reaction proceeds. These factors may increase or decrease the rate of reaction. These are the following factors that affect the rate of reaction.
• Concentration of reactants
• Surface area of the solid reactant
• Pressure at which the reaction proceeds
• Presence or absence of a catalyst
• Temperature
Concentration of the reactants
The concentration of the reactant directly affects the rate of reaction. In terms of collusion theory, by increasing the concentration of the reactant we actually increase the collusion between the molecules of reactants to convert them into products. In the following diagram we can see that

It is said that increasing the temperature by 10 degrees roughly doubles the rate of reaction. This can be shown in the graph below.

This graph shows that increasing the temperature increases the threshold energy to activate the reactant molecules to react and form products, hence affecting the rate of reaction.

Nature of reactants
Nature of reactants highly affects the rate of reaction. Some of the properties of reactants affect the rate of reaction such as:
• State of matter
• Molecular size
• Bond type
• Bond strength
State of matter
If the reactant is in the liquid or gaseous state, then it is easier to react it as compared to solid state. Wax is difficult to burn then methane.

Methane reacts faster Wax reacts slower.
Aqueous ions tend to react faster as compared to other species. This can be shown in the following reaction.

Lead nitrate in the solid state reacts slower Same lead nitrate in the aqueous state reacts faster in the same reaction forming the same products.
Bond type
Reactions involving mostly ionic compounds tend to react faster than the ones with other set of