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1.7 Kinetics
Question Paper

Course AQA A Level Chemistry

Section 1. Physical Chemistry
Topic 1.7 Kinetics
Difficulty Medium

Time Allowed 70
Score /54
Percentage /100

Page 1 of 13

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Question 1a
Sodium thiosulfate and hydrochloric acid will react together readily, as shown by the equation below:
Na2S2O3 + 2HCl → 2NaCl + S + SO2 + H2O
This reaction is often referred to as the ‘disappearing cross’ experiment, where students use different concentrations of
hydrochloric acid to determine the effect that concentration has on the rate of a chemical reaction.
The cross disappears because the solution turns cloudy as the reaction progresses.
State the type of chemical reaction taking place and identify the product responsible for turning the solution cloudy.
[2 marks]

Question 1b
A student completed the disappearing cross experiment from part (a) and recorded the results shown in Table 1.
Table 1
Concentration of Na2S2O3 Concentration of HCl Time for X to disappear
Expt.
(mol dm-3) (mol dm-3) (s)

1 0.050 0.25 113

2 0.050 0.50 99

3 0.050 1.0 68

4 0.050 1.5 43

Use the results shown in Table 1 and collision theory, to state and explain the effect that increasing the concentration of a
reactant has on the rate of a chemical reaction.
[3 marks]

Page 2 of 13

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Question 1c
The Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution of energies for a gas shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1

A student stated that when you increase the temperature:

The curve will be lower and shift to the right.
The shaded area on the Maxwell-Boltzmann curve will be smaller.
Explain, with reasons, whether you agree with this students’ statement.
[2 marks]

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Question 1d
Explain how catalysts increase the rate of a chemical reaction.
[2 marks]

Page 4 of 13

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Question 2a
In any chemical reaction, the particles will all be moving around in different directions, at different speeds, with different
amounts of energy.
A Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution is a graph which shows the distribution of energy amongst particles within a chemical
reaction.
Figure 1 below shows the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution in a sample of a gas at a fixed temperature, T1.
Figure 1

i) Label the x and y axes of the graph.

ii) Sketch a distribution for this same sample of gas, at a higher temperature, T2.
[4 marks]

Page 5 of 13

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Question 2b
State why a Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution curve always starts at the origin and what the area under the curve
represents.
[2 marks]

Question 2c
Chemical reactions take place at different speeds. For a chemical reaction to take place, particles must collide with each
other in the correct orientation and with sufficient energy.
i) Explain why most collisions between particles in the gas phase do not result in a reaction taking place.
ii) State and explain one way that the rate of reaction could be increased, other than by increasing the temperature.
[3 marks]

Question 2d
Give one reason why a reaction may be slow at room temperature.
[1 mark]

Question 3a
State the meaning of the term rate of reaction.
[1 mark]

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Question 3b
A group of students were completing a practical, investigating the factors which affect the rate of the chemical reaction
shown below.
A (s) + B (aq) → C (g)
The students collected the gas produced and plotted the graph shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1

i) State and explain what the letter R represents on the students graph in Figure 1.
ii) In the original reaction above, the students used 0.5 g of A and 50 cm3 of 1.0 mol dm-3 B.
Sketch a curve on the graph to show how the total volume of gas collected would change if the students still used
0.5 g of A, but used 50 cm3 of 2.0 mol dm-3 of B.
[3 marks]

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Question 3c
Explain why the gradient of the curve in part (b) decreases as the time of the reaction progresses.
[2 marks]

Question 3d
Another way to increase the rate of reaction is to increase the temperature.
Explain why a small increase in temperature has a large effect on the initial rate of a chemical reaction.
[2 marks]

Question 4a
The decomposition of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen is a very slow chemical reaction.
Write the equation for the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide.
[1 mark]

Question 4b
The rate of decomposition of hydrogen peroxide can be ascertained by collecting and measuring the volume of gas
formed at specific time intervals.

i) Draw a labelled diagram to show the apparatus that you would use to collect and measure the volume of gas
formed during this reaction.

ii) Explain how you would use the results to determine the initial rate of the reaction.
[5 marks]

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Question 4c
Two students set up the practical apparatus from part (b) to measure the rate of decomposition of hydrogen peroxide.
Student A states that one way to increase the rate of the decomposition, would be to increase the concentration of
hydrogen peroxide.
Is student A correct? Explain your answer.
[3 marks]

Question 4d
The decomposition of hydrogen peroxide is a slow reaction, so a catalyst is often added to speed up the rate of the
reaction. Catalysts are used in many chemical reactions to increase the rate.

The following shows a two-step reaction mechanism of a chemical reaction, where a catalyst, X is used.
STEP 1: W+X → Y+Z
STEP 2: Y+W→Z+A+X
OVERALL REACTION: 2W → 2Z + A
Give a reason, other than the rate of reaction increasing, why it can be deduced from the three equations above that X is a
catalyst.
[1 mark]

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Question 5a
During the following reaction, A and B react together to produce C.
A + 2B → C
Figure 1 shows the production of C over time.
Figure 1

i) Sketch a graph to show what happens to A and B during the progress of the reaction.

ii) On your graph, write the letter E at the point at which an equilibrium is first established.
[2 marks]

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Question 5b
In the reaction in part (a), lumps of A were used.
Use collision theory to explain what would happen to the rate of the reaction if powdered A was used instead of lumps.
[3 marks]

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Question 5c
In a different reaction, gaseous W and X were added together to produce Y and Z as shown in the equation below:
2W (g) + X (g) → Y (g) + 2Z (g)
A catalyst was added to speed up the rate of reaction.
Sketch a Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution on the axes below in Figure 2 to show the distribution of molecular energies at a
constant temperature with and without a catalyst.
Use Ea to label the activation energy without a catalyst and Ec to label the activation energy with a catalyst.
Explain what your distribution shows.
Figure 2

[6 marks]

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Question 5d
Some changes were made individually to the experiment completed in part (c).
Consider your Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution curve from part (c). For each of the changes in parts (i), (ii) and (iii) below,
state and explain the effect that the change would have on:
The area under the curve
The value of the most probably energy of the molecules (Emp)
The proportion of molecules with energy greater than or equal to Ea
i) The temperature of the original reaction is increased, but no other changes are made.

ii) The number of molecules in the original reaction mixture is increased, but no other changes are made.

iii) A catalyst is added to the original reaction mixture, but no other changes are made.
.
[6 marks]

Page 13 of 13

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