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CLASS 10 · LEARNING KNOWLEDGE

Reaction rate and catalysis – basic principles

How it works

The reaction rate describes how quickly a chemical reaction takes place. It depends on factors such as temperature, concentration of the starting substances, surface area of the reaction partners and the use of catalysts. Catalysts accelerate reactions by lowering the activation energy without being consumed themselves. The rate of a reaction can be determined by measuring the change in the concentration of a reactant or product per unit of time. Knowledge of these principles is fundamental for understanding chemical processes in nature and technology.

Note
The reaction rate is influenced by temperature, concentration, surface area and catalysts; catalysts lower the activation energy but are not consumed.

An example

What effect does an increase in temperature have on the rate of a chemical reaction?

An increase in temperature increases the reaction rate because the particles move faster and collide more often with sufficient energy.

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Own explanation and own practice exercises by AmyMath. Subject reference framework: Chemistry. The topic assignment may vary by federal state.