Step 1: Understanding reaction rate
The rate of a chemical reaction refers to how quickly reactants are converted into products. Various factors influence the reaction speed.
Step 2: Explanation of factors
- Concentration: Higher reactant concentration increases the rate due to more frequent collisions.
- Temperature: Raising temperature increases particle movement, leading to more effective collisions.
- Surface area: Smaller particle size exposes more surface area, increasing the reaction rate.
- Catalyst: A catalyst speeds up a reaction without being consumed.
- Pressure: In gaseous reactions, higher pressure increases the reaction rate.
- Nature of reactants: Some substances react faster due to their chemical properties.
- Light: Some reactions, like photosynthesis, require light energy.