Question

List four factors that influence the rate of a reaction.

Short answer

The rate of a reaction is influenced by four main factors: the concentration of reactants, temperature, the presence of catalysts, and the surface area of the reactants.

Step-by-step solution

Concentration of Reactants

The concentration of reactants is one of the factors that influence the rate of a reaction. As the concentration of reactants increases, the rate of reaction also usually increases, because the likelihood of particle collisions increases.

Temperature

The temperature is another important factor. The rate of reactions generally increases as the temperature increases because the particles move more quickly and interact with each other more at higher temperatures.

Catalysts

The presence of catalysts can also influence the rate of a reaction. Catalysts work by reducing the energy needed for a reaction to occur, which could increase the reaction rate.

Surface Area

Finally, the surface area of the reactants can influence the reaction rate. The larger the surface area, the greater the chance for particle collisions, which means the rate of the reaction could increase.