explain why reactant size and the rate of reaction is considered an inverse relationship.

Answer 1

In a chemical reaction, reactant size can affect the rate at which the reaction occurs. Generally, smaller reactant particles will react faster than larger particles. This is because smaller particles have a higher surface area to volume ratio, meaning there are more exposed particles available to react with other substances.

The rate of a chemical reaction is dependent on the frequency of collisions between reactant molecules. When reactant particles are smaller, they can collide with each other more frequently, leading to a higher rate of reaction. On the other hand, larger reactant particles have a lower surface area to volume ratio, making it less likely for collisions to occur between particles and reducing the rate of reaction.

Therefore, reactant size and the rate of reaction have an inverse relationship - as the size of the reactant particles decreases, the rate of the reaction increases, and vice versa.