Reaction Rate Calculator
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Understanding Reaction Rate
The rate of a chemical reaction is a measure of how quickly reactants are converted into products over a specific period. It's essentially the speed at which a chemical change occurs. This rate can be influenced by various factors, including the concentration of reactants, temperature, the presence of a catalyst, and the surface area of solid reactants.
A common way to express the rate of a reaction is by observing the change in concentration of a reactant or product over time. For a reactant, its concentration decreases as it is consumed. For a product, its concentration increases as it is formed.
The formula used in this calculator is a simplified representation of the average rate of reaction for a reactant:
Average Rate = – (Change in Reactant Concentration) / (Change in Time)
The negative sign is used because the concentration of the reactant decreases over time. The units for reaction rate are typically molarity per second (M/s).
Example: If the initial concentration of a reactant is 1.0 M and after 60 seconds, its concentration has dropped to 0.5 M, the average rate of the reaction would be:
Average Rate = – (0.5 M – 1.0 M) / (60 s) = – (-0.5 M) / (60 s) = 0.00833 M/s (approximately).
This indicates that, on average, 0.00833 moles per liter of the reactant were consumed each second during that time interval.