The neutralisation reaction between ethanoic acid and sodium carbonate is an endothermic reaction - Edexcel - GCSE Chemistry - Question 1 - 2017 - Paper 1
Question 1
The neutralisation reaction between ethanoic acid and sodium carbonate is an endothermic reaction.
Describe what is meant by the term endothermic reaction.
(b) The... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:The neutralisation reaction between ethanoic acid and sodium carbonate is an endothermic reaction - Edexcel - GCSE Chemistry - Question 1 - 2017 - Paper 1
Step 1
Describe what is meant by the term endothermic reaction.
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Answer
An endothermic reaction is a chemical reaction that absorbs energy from its surroundings, particularly in the form of heat. As a result, the temperature of the surroundings decreases. Essentially, the reactants take in thermal energy to break bonds, which allows the reaction to proceed.
Step 2
State two other ways of increasing the rate of this reaction.
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Answer
Increase the surface area by using magnesium powder instead of ribbon.
Raise the temperature of the hydrochloric acid.
Step 3
Explain, in terms of particles, why increasing the concentration of the acid increases the rate of this reaction.
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Answer
Increasing the concentration of the acid results in more particles of acid in the same volume. This leads to a higher frequency of collisions between the acid particles and the magnesium ribbon, resulting in more successful collisions per second that can lead to a reaction.