Chemical Reactions and Temperature Lab Investigation

Introduction


In order for a chemical reaction to occur, the particles, atoms or ions, which are reactants, must physically come into contact with one another. Anything that increases the frequency of these encounters will increase the rate at which the products are formed. The rate of a chemical reaction can be increased by increasing the temperature of these reactants. 


Problem


Does temperature affect chemical reactions?


Hypothesis


The warmer the temperature, the greater a chemical reaction will take place, because there will be more energy stored in the water, and the more energy that's in the water, the shorter the chemical reaction will be. 


Results


Cold water - The cold water started at 6.7°C and ended at 2.8°C. The reaction took 2 minutes and 30 seconds to end completely. 


Room temperature water - The room temperature water started at 22.2°C, and ended at 23°C. It took 34 seconds for the reaction to end completely. 


Hot water - The hot water started at 31.6°C, and ended at 50°C. It took 21 seconds for the reaction to end completely. 


Conclusion


My hypothesis was correct; the warmer the water got, the less time the chemical reaction took to end completely. I think the different times were influenced by the temperature and only the temperature, because each time, we used the same kind of tablet and the same equipment. Therefore, the answer to the problem (Does temperature affect chemical reactions?) would be yes, temperature does affect chemical reactions. I still believe that the reason the different temperatures affected them is because of the amount of energy in the water. 


Observations


Cold water - The cold water had the least fizz and the quietest fizzing sound of any of the waters. I think this happened because the cold water had the least amount of energy. 


Room temperature water - The room temperature water's amount of fizz was right in the middle of the three waters, and so was the fizzing noise. I think this happened because the room temperature water's amount of energy was right in the middle. 


Hot water - The hot water had the most fizz and the loudest fizzing sound. I think this happened because the hot water had the most energy out of any of the waters.