FACTORS AFFECTING RATE OF REACTION:

The rate of a chemical reaction, which measures how quickly reactants are consumed or products are formed, is influenced by several factors. Understanding these factors helps in controlling and optimizing reaction rates. Here are the key factors affecting the rate of a reaction:

1. Nature of Reactants:The chemical nature of the reactants involved in a reaction plays a significant role. Some reactions occur more readily than others due to the inherent reactivity of the substances involved. For example, reactions between highly reactive elements or compounds tend to proceed at faster rates compared to reactions involving less reactive species.
2. Concentration:The concentration of reactants affects the rate of a reaction. Generally, an increase in reactant concentration leads to an increase in the reaction rate. This is because a higher concentration provides more reactant particles, leading to a higher collision frequency and an increased likelihood of successful collisions.
3. Temperature:The rate of reaction increases with the increase in temperature. In most cases, the rate of reaction becomes nearly double for 10⁰ rise in temperature. In some cases, reactions do not take place at room temperature but take place at higher temperatures.
4. Pressure (for gases): In the case of gaseous reactants, pressure can influence the reaction rate, particularly for reactions involving gases. Increasing the pressure of gaseous reactants can enhance the reaction rate by increasing the collision frequency between gas molecules.
5. Surface Area: In reactions involving solid reactants, the surface area of the solid can significantly impact the reaction rate. A larger surface area provides a more exposed area for reactant particles to interact, leading to more collisions and a faster reaction rate. Therefore, finely divided or powdered forms of solids tend to react faster compared to bulky or solid pieces.
6. Catalysts:Catalysts are substances that accelerate a reaction by providing an alternative reaction pathway with lower activation energy. They increase the rate of reaction without being consumed in the process. Catalysts can significantly enhance reaction rates and are widely used in various industrial and biological processes.
7. Presence of Inhibitors: Inhibitors are substances that decrease the rate of a reaction. They work by interfering with the reaction mechanism, reducing the effectiveness of collisions, or inhibiting the formation of active intermediates. Inhibitors are often used to control reaction rates or to prevent unwanted reactions.

Understanding and manipulating these factors allow scientists and engineers to control and optimize reaction rates for various applications, ranging from industrial processes to pharmaceutical synthesis and energy production.

Which of the following statement is false?

Molecularity influences the rate of reaction

The false statement among the given options is: (2) Molecularity influences the rate of reaction.

The statement (2) is incorrect. Molecularity refers to the number of molecules or species involved in an elementary reaction step. It represents the number of molecules colliding simultaneously in the reaction. While molecularity is important in determining the mechanism of a reaction, it does not directly influence the rate of the reaction.

The rate of a chemical reaction is determined by the rate law, which is an experimentally derived equation that relates the rate of the reaction to the concentrations of the reactants. The rate law includes rate constants and reaction orders, which are not solely determined by the molecularity of the reaction. The reaction order reflects how the concentration of a particular reactant affects the rate of the reaction.

Therefore, statement (2) is false. Molecularity does not directly influence the rate of a reaction.