A student investigated how a change in concentration affects the rate of the reaction between zinc powder and sulfuric acid - AQA - GCSE Chemistry - Question 9 - 2021 - Paper 2
Question 9
A student investigated how a change in concentration affects the rate of the reaction between zinc powder and sulfuric acid.
The equation for the reaction is:
Zn(s)... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:A student investigated how a change in concentration affects the rate of the reaction between zinc powder and sulfuric acid - AQA - GCSE Chemistry - Question 9 - 2021 - Paper 2
Step 1
The student made an error in setting up the apparatus in Figure 8.
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Answer
The student mistakenly placed the delivery tube in the wrong solution; it should be in sulfuric acid, not in the air.
Step 2
Explain why the lines of best fit on Figure 9 become horizontal.
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Answer
The horizontal lines indicate that the reaction has stopped, as the reactants have been used up and no more gas is being produced.
Step 3
How does Figure 9 show that zinc powder reacts more slowly with 0.05 mol/dm³ sulfuric acid than with 0.10 mol/dm³ sulfuric acid?
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Answer
The graph for 0.05 mol/dm³ sulfuric acid is less steep, indicating a slower rate of reaction. Additionally, the reaction using 0.05 mol/dm³ sulfuric acid takes longer to reach completion.
Step 4
Determine the rate of the reaction for 0.05 mol/dm³ sulfuric acid at 80 seconds.
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Answer
To find the rate, draw a tangent at 80 seconds on the curve representing 0.05 mol/dm³. Calculate the gradient (rate) of this tangent using the formula:
ext{Rate} = rac{ ext{change in volume}}{ ext{change in time}}
Assuming the tangent line shows a change in volume of approximately 30 cm³ over a change in time of 30 seconds, the rate can be calculated as: