Video Transcript
Which of the following reactions is
most likely to have the fastest rate of reaction? (A) The explosive reaction between
hydrogen and oxygen gases. (B) The setting of epoxy resins and
other similar glues. (C) The cooking of an egg. (D) The rusting of iron. Or (E) the carbonization of dead
plants and animals into fossil fuels.
In this question, we need to
identify which chemical reaction process has the fastest rate of reaction. The rate of a reaction is the rate
at which the reactants are converted into the products. It usually has units of mass per
unit time or moles per unit time.
Reactant substances rapidly turn
into products when the rate of reaction is high. Let’s consider some chemical
reactions that happen at a fast reaction rate. Many combustion reactions, such as
the combustion of methane, burn at a fast pace, quickly giving off heat and turning
into carbon dioxide and water. Lots of explosive reactions happen
incredibly rapidly. When hydrogen and oxygen react,
they rapidly turn into water through an energetic and explosive process.
Other reactions occur at slow
reaction rates. Iron rusts very slowly; it can take
weeks or longer for an iron surface to rust. The carbonization of dead organisms
into fossil fuels is an even slower process and can take millions of years.
There is a wide range of reaction
rates, as some reactions happen faster than rusting but slower than the explosive
formation of water. For example, the reaction taking
place during egg cooking has an intermediate reaction rate. The setting of most epoxy resins
would be intermediate as well.
The explosive reaction between
hydrogen and oxygen should happen the most rapidly of the answer choices. Therefore, the reaction most likely
to have the fastest rate of reaction is answer choice (A), the explosive reaction
between hydrogen and oxygen gases.
