Measuring Reaction Rates

There are two ways to measure reaction rates in the School Science Laboratory. You can measure how quickly the products are formed, or you can measure how quickly one of the reactants is used up and disappears.

Below is a graph to show how a typical reaction proceeds when the amount of a product is made. An example of this reaction might be the production of hydrogen gas when sulfuric acid reacts with magnesium ribbon, or the production of carbon dioxide gas when hydrochloric acid reacts with marble chips (calcium carbonate chips).

Graph to show a typical reaction when product is made.

Below is a graph to show how a typical reaction proceeds when the amount of a reactant is used up or when the amount of a gas produced is given off and the mass of the reaction flask and contents decreases. An example of this reaction might be the loss of carbon dioxide gas to the surroundings when marble chips (calcium carbonate) reacts with hydrochloric acid. See video 2 below.

Graph to show a typical reaction when mass is lost from a flask and its contents.

Video 1 - Measuring the rates of reaction

Video 2 - Rate of reaction-measuring rate of reaction