Now it is time to design your own experiment to test how particle size (or surface area) affects reaction rate. Answer the next seven questions about your experiment that tests the effect of particle size on reaction rate.
1) What would you do next if your results supported your hypothesis? Hint: Should you do this experiment only once?
The hypothesis: The smaller the particle size (or larger the surface area), the faster the reaction rate will be. This is because smaller particles (or larger surface area) will have more exposed reactive sites allowing for more collisions with other particles, leading to a higher reaction rate.
Hint: You are welcome to use the alka seltzer tablet and water reaction again to design this experiment that tests the effect of particle size on reaction rate. You are not required to use the alka seltzer experiment, you could design a different experiment but it must test particle size affect on reaction rate.
1 answer
If my results supported my hypothesis, I would repeat the experiment multiple times to ensure the consistency and accuracy of my results. I would also try using different sizes of particles or surface areas to see if there is a specific range at which the reaction rate is maximized. Furthermore, I would investigate different environmental conditions such as temperature, pressure, and concentration to see how they interact with particle size and affect reaction rate.