THE COPPERBELT UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF MINES AND MINERAL SCIENCES

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

TITLE: CHEMICAL KINETICS: SODIUM THIOSULFATE.

NAME: ISAAC MUKAZA LUKUMBA

SIN: 21940397

YEAR OF STUDY: 4th YEAR

INSTRUCTORS: Mr MUGALA

COURSE NAME: ENGINEERING LABS, DESIGN PROJECT &

INDUSTRIAL SAFETY II

COURSE CODE: CE 430

DUE DATE: 28th FEBRUARY 2025

GROUP 1 MEMBERS

CHRISTOPHER MWAMBA…………….21161986
ISAAC MUKAZA LUKUMBA………….21940397
MOSES MUTAMBO……………….…….21162850
RACHEAL NAMUKOKO……………….21161398
MARK MANYOMBO……………………21167248
KABWE TASHA LUCHEMBE………….21177995
 TITLE: CHEMICAL KINETICS: SODIUM THIOSULFATE.

ABSTRACT

This experiment aimed to investigate the kinetics of the reaction between sodium
thiosulfate and hydrochloric acid by analysing the effects of concentration and
temperature on reaction rate. The reaction produced sulfur, causing the solution to
become opaque, which allowed visual determination of the reaction completion.

To determine the rate law, the concentration of sodium thiosulfate was varied while
keeping hydrochloric acid in excess. Additionally, the effect of temperature was
studied, and the activation energy was calculated using the Arrhenius equation.

The major findings indicated a first-order dependence on sodium thiosulfate

concentration, confirming the expected kinetic behavior. Higher concentrations and
temperatures led to faster clouding, indicating a higher reaction rate, while lower
concentrations and temperatures resulted in a slower reaction rate. The activation
energy was determined to be 9.63 kJ/mol, and a high correlation coefficient (R² = 1)
confirmed the reliability of the kinetic data and the accuracy of the Arrhenius
equation in describing the reaction rate.

These results reinforce fundamental concepts of chemical kinetics, demonstrating the

relationship between reaction rate, concentration, and temperature. They provide a
basis for further analysis and improve our overall understanding of reaction kinetics.
Future improvements could include automated timing methods and more precise
temperature control to enhance accuracy.
 INTRODUCTION

Understanding the factors that influence the rate of chemical reactions is fundamental
in the field of chemical kinetics. Two primary factors affecting reaction rates are the
concentration of reactants and the temperature at which the reaction occurs.
Increasing the concentration of reactants typically leads to a higher frequency of
molecular collisions, thereby accelerating the reaction rate. Similarly, elevating the
temperature increases the kinetic energy of molecules, resulting in more frequent and
forceful collisions, which also enhances the reaction rate (LibreTexts, 2023).

The reaction between sodium thiosulfate and hydrochloric acid serves as an

illustrative example to study these effects. When these two clear, colourless solutions
are combined, they react to form a precipitate of solid sulfur, causing the solution to
become progressively opaque. This change in turbidity provides a visual means to
monitor the reaction rate under varying conditions of reactant concentration and
temperature (Flinn Scientific, 2023).

In this experimental investigation, we aim to quantitatively analyse how changes in

sodium thiosulfate concentration and reaction temperature influence the rate of its
reaction with hydrochloric acid. By systematically varying these parameters and
measuring the time required for the solution to reach a predetermined level of opacity,
we can gain insights into the reaction kinetics. The data obtained will be used to
determine the reaction order with respect to sodium thiosulfate and to calculate the
activation energy of the reaction using the Arrhenius equation. This study not only
enhances our understanding of the specific reaction mechanism but also reinforces
broader concepts related to the dependence of reaction rates on concentration and
temperature.

OBJECTIVE
1. To determine the reaction rate, order of reaction and rate constant.
2. To determine the activation energy of the reaction.
 THEORY
The branch of chemistry that is concerned with the rates of reactions is called
chemical kinetics.
The rates of reactions in solutions depend upon:

1. Nature of reactants
2. Concentration of reactants
3. Temperature
4. Catalyst

For a reaction to proceed, the reactants must come into direct contact through
collisions of the reacting particles. However, even when these collisions occur,
they must possess sufficient energy to trigger a reaction. Without this necessary
energy, the collisions are ineffective, resembling the impact of billiard balls
merely bouncing off each other. Taking these factors into account, we can
quantitatively explain how different variables influence the rates of reactions.

Concentration: Changing the concentration of a solute in a solution modifies the

number of particles per unit volume. The higher the particle count in a given
volume, the greater the likelihood of collisions. Thus, increasing the
concentration of a solute in the solution raises the number of collisions per unit
time, thereby increasing the reaction rate.

Temperature: Temperature measures the average kinetic energy of a substance.

As temperature rises, so does the kinetic energy of the reactant particles, resulting
in an increase in their velocity. Consequently, the number of collisions between
particles within a given time frame increases, leading to a faster reaction rate.
Additionally, higher kinetic energy means a greater proportion of collisions will
have the necessary energy for the reaction to occur.

Catalyst: Catalysts are believed to enhance reaction rates in several ways.

Sometimes, they bring reactant particles into close proximity with the correct
geometric alignment for the reaction. In other cases, catalysts provide an
alternative reaction pathway that requires less energy for collisions between
reactant particles. With lower energy requirements, a higher percentage of
collisions will possess the required energy, thus accelerating the reaction.
Although catalysts may actively participate in the reaction, they can be recovered
unchanged at the end of the process.

In the Arrhenius model of reaction rates, activation energy is the minimum

amount of energy that must be available to reactants for a chemical reaction to
occur. The activation energy (Ea) of a reaction is measured in kilojoules per mol
(kJ/mol) or kilocalories per mol (kcal/mol).

The Arrhenius equation gives the quantitative basis of the relationship between
the activation energy and the rate at which a reaction proceeds.

From the equation, the activation energy can be found through the relation

� = ��−��/�� ……. (1)

where A is the pre-exponential factor for the reaction, R is the universal gas
constant, T is the absolute temperature (usually in kelvins), and k is the reaction
rate coefficient. Even without knowing A, Ea can be evaluated from the variation
in reaction rate coefficients as a function of temperature (within the validity of
the Arrhenius equation).

Order of Reaction Defined

Consider the hypothetical reaction:

A + B → C + D…… (2)

The rate of reaction is measured by observing the rate of disappearance of the

reactants A or B, or the rate of appearance of the products C or D. The species
observed is a matter of convenience. For example, if A, B, and D are colourless
and C is coloured, you could conveniently measure the rate of appearance of C
by observing an increase in the intensity of the colour of the solution as a
function of time. Mathematically, the rate of reaction may be expressed as
follows:

−�ℎ���� �� �ℎ� ������������� �� �

���� �� ������������� �� � =
���� �������� ��� �ℎ����

∆�
���� �� ������������� �� � = ∆�
….. (3)
 �ℎ���� �� �ℎ� ������������� �� �
���� �� ���������� �� � =
���� �������� ��� �ℎ����

∆�
���� �� ���������� �� � = ∆�
….. (44)

In general, the rate of the reaction depends upon the concentration of one or more
of the reactants. Thus, the rate of the reaction above is expressed as

Rate = k[A]x [B]y …... (5)

where [A] and [B] are the molar concentrations of A and B, x and y are the
powers to which the respective concentrations must be raised, and k is the rate
constant. The values of x and y must be determined experimentally. For example,
if x = 2 and y = 1, then the rate law is:

Rate = k[A]2 [B]

This reaction is first order in B, meaning that doubling the concentration of B

while keeping A constant causes the reaction rate to double. Simultaneously, this
reaction is second order in A, meaning that doubling the concentration of A while
keeping B constant causes the rate to increase by a factor of four, since the rate of
the reaction is proportional to the square of the concentration of A. The overall
order of the reaction is the sum of the exponents: or third order in this case. The
orders are determined experimentally by noting the effects of changing reagent
concentrations on the rate of the reaction. The rate constant, k, is independent of
the concentration. The rate constant is characteristic for a given reaction and
varies only with temperature. Once the rate is known for a given set of
concentrations, the value of k can be calculated.

Reaction of Sodium thiosulfate and Hydrochloric acid

The reaction between Sodium thiosulphate (Naz5203) and hydrochloric acid (HCI)

To produce a colloidal solution of sulphur, where the solution obtained is translucent.

The reaction occurs as follows:

Na2S2O3 (aq) + 2HCI (ag) → 2NaCl (aq) + H2O) + SO2 (g) + S(s) …… (6)

The above reaction when written in its ionic form:

S203-2 (aq) + 2H+ (aq) → H2O (l) + SO2(g) + S(s)…… (7)

When the temperature of the system or the concentration of the reactants is increased,
the rate of sulfur precipitation also rises. Higher concentration leads to more frequent
molecular collisions per unit time among the reacting species, which in turn
heightens the likelihood of product formation. Consequently, this enhances the rate at
which sulfur precipitates.

In a similar fashion, raising the temperature boosts the kinetic energy of the reacting
species. This escalation in kinetic energy results in a greater number of effective
collisions that produce products, thereby accelerating the reaction rate.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

Materials

 Hydrochloric acid solution, HCl

 Sodium thiosulfate solution, Na2S2O3
 Tap water
 Beakers
 Graduated cylinders
 Permanent marker
 Piece of paper
 Stopwatch or timer
 Water bath

Figure 1: Water bath.

Method

1. Nine 100-mL beakers were labelled 1–9, and the bottom of each beaker was
cleaned.
2. A large “X” was drawn on a piece of paper and placed on the bottom outside
of each beaker.

Figure 2: Experimental setup

3. Using separate graduated cylinders for the solution and water, the required
amounts of sodium thiosulfate and tap water, as specified in Table 2, were
measured and added to each beaker.
4. The final concentration of sodium thiosulfate in each beaker (1–9) was
calculated.
5. The following information was recorded in a data table: beaker number,
volume of Na2S2O3 solution, volume of tap water, concentration of Na2S2O3,
reaction time (seconds), and 1/reaction time (reaction rate). Refer to table 2.
6. A 2 mol/dm³ hydrochloric acid solution was measured into each of nine 10-
mL graduated cylinders.
7. Starting with beaker #1, the HCl was carefully added all at once to the
sodium thiosulfate solution. The solution was stirred once, and timing was
immediately started.
8. Timing was stopped when the black “X” was no longer visible. The reaction
time in seconds was recorded in the data table (table 1).
 Figure 3: Cross disappearance.

9. Steps 7 and 8 were repeated with beakers 2–5, where the volumes of sodium
thiosulfate and tap water were measured as specified in table 2.
10. The experiment was repeated, heating the solution of sodium thiosulfate and
water in beakers 6-9 as specified in table 2 using the water bath to
temperatures of 37.5°C and 46.5°C respectively, before adding the HCl.
11. The experiment was conducted in duplicate to ensure consistency in time
recording.
12. The inverse of the reaction time (1/reaction time) for each trial was calculated.
 RESULTS
Data collection

Table 1: Times collected

Time taken for X mark to disappear

T1 T2 Tavg
N* At room temperature (24°C)
Beaker
1 12.88 12.43 12.66
2 14.82 14.36 14.59
3 22.11 21.93 22.02
4 25.11 22.82 23.96
5 66.60 69.00 67.50
At 37.5°C
6 33.23 28.44 30.83
7 7.10 8.85 7.97
At 46.5°C
8 42.25 42.25 42.25
9 10.50 10.48 10.49
The values tabulated above were obtained during the experiment.

Data analysis.

1. At room temperature(24ºC)
Rate law: −�� = ����
���( − ��) = ��� � + ������
From the figure 4;� = 1.0105� − 2.7993
log k= -2.7993 thus k1= 1.587×10-3 dm3/g. s
The order of reaction n is 1.0105
Reaction rate: k ��� =1.587×10-3×()1.0105 =

2. At 37.5ºC
From the rate law and figure 5; � = − 2.0085� + 1.6017
Log k2= 1.6017 thus k2= 39.967 dm3/g. s
 3. At 46.5ºC
From the rate law and figure 6; y= -1.9525x+1.6488
Log k3= 1.648 thus k3= 44.463 dm3/g. s

For the activation energy; we used equation (1) and rearranged it to equation:

��
ln � = ��� –
��
(8)

The above equation was used to plot ln k vs 1/T (figure 7).

Refer to table 4 for the values of ln k and 1/T.

N.B: Only the values k2 and k3 were used to plot figure 7.

From figure 7, y= -1158.7x+7.4203

-Ea/R = -1158.7

Ea = R (1158.7) = 9.6334318 kJ/mol

 Table 2: Experimental data.

Volume Volume Volume Time taken for X Original Rate (s-1)

of of Tap of HCl mark to disappear concentrati 1/Tavg
Na2S2O3 water (cm3) (s) on of
(cm3) (cm3) T1 T2 Tavg Na2S2O3
(g/dm3)
N* At room temperature (24°C)
Beaker
1 50 0 10 12.88 12.43 12.66 50.560 0.07899
2 40 10 10 14.82 14.36 14.59 40.448 0.06853
3 30 20 10 22.11 21.93 22.02 30.336 0.04541
4 20 30 10 25.11 22.82 23.96 20.224 0.04174
5 10 40 10 66.60 69.00 67.50 10.112 0.01481
At 37.5°C
6 10 40 10 33.23 28.44 30.83 40.448 0.0324
7 30 20 10 7.10 8.85 7.97 20.224 0.1254
At 46.5°C
8 10 40 10 42.25 42.25 42.25 40.448 0.02367
9 30 20 10 10.50 10.48 10.49 20.224 0.09524
The values presented in the table above were derived based on the calculations
provided in Appendix 1.
Table 3: The rates and concentrations

-rA (s-1) CA (g.dm-3) log(-rA) log (CA)

N* Beaker At room temperature (24°C)
1 0.07899 50.560 -1.10243 1.703807
2 0.06853 40.448 -1.16412 1.606897
3 0.04541 30.336 -1.34285 1.481958
4 0.04174 20.224 -1.37945 1.305867
5 0.01481 10.112 -1.82944 1.004837
At 37.5°C
6 0.0324 40.448 -1.48945 1.606897
7 0.1254 20.224 -0.9017 1.305867
At 46.5°C
8 0.02367 40.448 -1.6258 1.606897
9 0.09524 20.224 -1.02118 1.305867
The values presented in the table above were derived based on the calculations
provided in Appendix 1.

Figure 4: Plot of log(-rA) vs log (CA) At Room temperature(24ºC).

Figure 5: Plot of log(-rA) vs log (CA) At 37.5ºC

Figure 6: Plot of log(-rA) vs log (CA) At 46.5ºC

Table 4: Rate constants and Times

N* ki Ti ln ki 1/Ti
1 1.587×10-3 297 -6.44591 0.003367
2 39.967 310.5 3.688054 0.003221
3 44.463 319.5 3.794657 0.003129
The values presented in the table above were derived based on the calculations
provided in Appendix

1.

Figure 7: Plot of ln k vs 1/T.

Figure 8: Relationship of reaction concentration and reaction time at room

temperature.
Figure 9: Relationship of reaction concentration and reaction rate at room
temperature.

DISCUSSION
At the start of the experiment, both sodium thiosulfate and hydrochloric acid
appeared as clear, colourless liquids. When the two solutions were mixed, no
immediate change was observed. However, after a few seconds as tabulated in table
1, the solution gradually became cloudy due to the formation of solid sulfur as shown
by reaction (6). The rate at which the solution turned opaque varied depending on the
concentration of sodium thiosulfate and the temperature of the reaction as tabulated
in table 2. Higher concentrations and temperatures led to faster clouding, indicating a
higher reaction rate, while lower concentrations and temperatures resulted in a
slower reaction as portrayed by the data in table 2. As the reaction progressed, the
solution eventually became completely opaque, obscuring the black cross beneath the
reaction flask. Additionally, a faint sulfurous odor, characteristic of sulfur dioxide
gas, was detected. It was also observed that stirring the mixture slightly influenced
the reaction time, and any delay in mixing the reactants caused inconsistencies in the
results. Small fluctuations in the surrounding temperature also had a minor impact on
reaction times. These observations highlight the effects of concentration and
temperature on reaction rates and provide a basis for further analysis of the kinetics
of reaction.
At room temperature the reaction order and the rate constant were obtained as 1.0105
and 1.587×10-3 dm3/g. s respectively using the data in table 3 and the plot in figure 4.
The activation energy was obtained as 9.6334318 kJ/mol using the Arrhenius
equation (describes how the rate of reaction depends on the temperature and
activation energy). In the figure 8 and 9 the relationship of reaction concentration
and reaction time at room temperature and relationship of reaction concentration and
reaction rate at room temperature were plotted respectively.
In this experiment, the correlation coefficient (R2) was used to evaluate the reliability
of our kinetic data and the accuracy of the Arrhenius equation in describing the
reaction rate. A high R2 value (close to 1) indicates a strong linear relationship
between the experimental data and the expected model, confirming the validity of
our calculated activation energy and reaction order.

In the Arrhenius plot (figure 7), the linearity of ln(k) vs. 1/T was assessed, with a
high R2 value of 1 suggesting that temperature-dependent changes in reaction rate
follow the Arrhenius equation. Overall, the correlation coefficient served as a crucial
tool in verifying the reliability of our kinetic analysis and ensuring confidence in our
results.

CONCLUSION
This experiment aimed to investigate how varying the concentration of sodium
thiosulfate and the reaction temperature affect its reaction rate with hydrochloric acid.
Higher concentrations and temperatures led to faster clouding, indicating an
increased reaction rate, while lower concentrations and temperatures resulted in a
slower reaction. At room temperature, the reaction order was determined to be
approximately first order (1.0105), with a rate constant of 1.587×10⁻³ dm³/g·s, and
the activation energy was calculated as 9.633 kJ/mol using the Arrhenius equation. A
high correlation coefficient (R² = 1) in the Arrhenius plot confirmed the strong linear
relationship between the experimental data and the Arrhenius model, validating the
accuracy of the calculated kinetic parameters. Minor fluctuations in ambient
temperature and slight variations in stirring or mixing times introduced
inconsistencies in reaction times, potentially affecting the precision of the results.
Overall, this experiment reinforced the principles of chemical kinetics, demonstrating
that reaction rates increase with higher reactant concentrations and temperatures, and
provided deeper insights into the reaction mechanism between sodium thiosulfate
and hydrochloric acid.
 RECOMMENDATION
To improve the accuracy and reliability of the chemical kinetics experiment on the
reaction between sodium thiosulfate and hydrochloric acid, the following
recommendations should be considered:

1. Accurate Measurement of Time

• Use a digital stopwatch with a precision of at least 0.1 seconds.
• Ensure consistent starting and stopping criteria (e.g., stopping when
the black cross is completely obscured).
2. Control of Temperature
• Conduct the experiment in a water bath to maintain constant
temperature conditions.
• Measure the temperature before and after each reaction to ensure
minimal fluctuation.
3. Consistency in Mixing
• Swirl the conical flask consistently after adding hydrochloric acid to
ensure uniform mixing.
• Use the same person to mix the solutions to reduce variability.
4. Use of Dilution to Vary Concentration
• Prepare serial dilutions of sodium thiosulfate for accurate
concentration changes.
• Use a pipette for precise measurement instead of measuring cylinders.
5. Multiple Trials for Reliability
• Perform at least three trials for each concentration and calculate the
average reaction time.
• Identify and discard any outliers to improve accuracy.
6. Safety Precautions
• Conduct the experiment in a well-ventilated area as sulfur dioxide gas
is produced, which can cause respiratory irritation.
• Wear safety goggles and gloves to prevent accidental contact with
hydrochloric acid.
 REFERENCES
1. Houston, P.L. (2001) Chemical kinetics and reaction dynamics. New
York: McGraw-Hill.
2. A.N Mugala, Chipili, P. and Musonda, J. (2023) Chemical
Engineering Lab Manual (CE430). Chemical Engineering Dept., The
Copperbelt University.
3. Flinn Scientific 2023, Reaction Rate of Sodium Thiosulfate and
Hydrochloric Acid, viewed 21 February 2025,
<https://www.flinnsci.com/globalassets/flinn-scientific/all-free-
pdfs/dc91860.pdf>.
4. LibreTexts 2023, Effects of Temperature, Concentration, and
Catalysts on Reaction Rates, viewed 21 February 2025,
<https://chem.libretexts.org/Courses/Chabot_College/Introduction_to
_General_Organic_and_Biochemistry/10%3A_Reaction_Rates_and_
Equilibrium/10.03%3A_Effects_of_Temperature_Concentration_and
_Catalysts_on_Reaction_Rates>.
5. Atkins, P. and de Paula, J. (2018) Physical chemistry. 11th ed. Oxford:
Oxford University Press.
6. House, J.E. (2007) Principles of chemical kinetics. 2nd ed. Academic
Press.
 APPENDIX
Appendix 1: Calculations.

Calculation of rate constants:

Rate law = -rA = kCAn or;

log(-rA) = log k + nlogCA, which is analogous to y = mx + c
1. At room temperature (24°C)
From the graph;
y = 1.0105x – 2.7993
Therefore, the order of reaction is 1.0105
Therefore, log k = -2.7993, k1 = 1.587×10-3
2. At 37.5℃
From the graph;
y = -2.0085x + 1.6017
Therefore, log k = 1.6017, k2 = 39.967
3. At 46.5℃
From the graph;
y = -1.9525x + 1.648
Therefore, log k = 1.648, k3 = 44.463

Calculation of activation energy using the Arrhenius equation

The Arrhenius equation is given by;

−Ea
k = Ae RT which can be linearized to give;

Ea 1
ln k = ln A - R .T , which can now be used to plot ln k vs 1/T

From the graph;

y = -1158.7x + 7.4203

Ea
Therefore, - R = -1158.7 , where R is the universal constant (R = 8.314kJ/Kmol.K)

Ea = R × 1158.7 = 9633.4318 J/mol (activation energy)

Calculation of concentration (g.dm-3)

Given that mass of Sodium Thiosulfate = 158g.mol-1

Trial 1:
M1V1 (0.32)(50)
M1V1 = M2V2 or M2 = V2
= 50+0
= 0.32mol.dm-3 × 158g.mol-1 = 50.56g.dm-3

Trial 2:
M1V1 (0.32)(40)
M1V1 = M2V2 or M2 = V2
= 40+10
=0.256mol.dm-3 × 158g.mol-1 =40.448g.dm-3

Trial 3:
M1V1 (0.32)(30)
M1V1 = M2V2 or M2 = V2
= 30+20
=0.192mol.dm-3 × 158g.mol-1 =30.336g.dm-3

Trial 4:
M1V1 (0.32)(20)
M1V1 = M2V2 or M2 = V2
= 20+30
=0.128mol.dm-3 × 158g.mol-1 =20.224g.dm-3

Trial 5:
M1V1 (0.32)(10)
M1V1 = M2V2 or M2 = V2
= 10+40
=0.064mol.dm-3 × 158g.mol-1 =10.112g.dm-3

For trials 6 and 8, the concentrations were repeated and thus yielded results for trial 2,
which is 40.448 g.dm-3

For trials 7 and 9, the concentrations were repeated and thus yielded results for trial 4,
which is 20.224 g.dm-3

Calculation of rate (s-1)

the rate is given by;
1
Rate = T
avg

Trial 1:
1
Rate = 12.66 = 0.07899 s-1

This procedure was repeated for the other trials to calculate the rates.
Calculation of ln k values
The calculated k values were used in generation of the linearized equation which was
used to calculate the activation energy. A plot of ln k vs 1/T (for k2 and k3) was made.
Therefore, the ln k values were calculated as follows;
Trial 1:
For k1, ln (k1) = ln (1.587×10-3) = -6.44591
This was then repeated for the other k values (k2 = 3.688054 and k3 = 3.794657)
Calculation of log (CA) and log (-rA)
Logs were performed on the concentrations and rates for all the trials irrespective of
the temperature.
For example,
Trial 1:
log (-rA) log (CA)
= log (0.07899) = -1.1024278 = log (50.56) = 1.7038071
This procedure was repeated for all other trails
Appendix 2: Analysis Questions.

1. Does the rate depend on [ HCl]?

What is the reaction order for HCl?
2. Does the rate depend on [ Na2S2O3]?
What is the reaction order for Na2S2O3?
In the reaction between sodium thiosulfate Na2S2O3 and hydrochloric acid HCl, the
rate primarily depends on the concentration of sodium thiosulfate rather than
hydrochloric acid.

Effect of HCl Concentration on Rate

• Hydrochloric acid is present in excess: In typical experiments, a

relatively high concentration of HCl is used, meaning that changing
its concentration has little to no effect on the reaction rate.
• Reaction Mechanism: The key step in the reaction involves the
decomposition of thiosulfate ions:

S203-2 (aq) + 2H+ (aq) → H2O (l) + SO2(g) + S(s)

Since the reaction rate mainly depends on the concentration of S203-2, the order with
respect to HCl is very low or approximately zero in typical conditions.

Reaction Order with Respect to HCl

• Experimental studies show that the reaction is zero-order with respect

to HCl, meaning that changing the concentration of HCl does not
significantly affect the rate.
• The rate equation is generally:

Rate= k[Na2S2O3]m[HCl]n
Where:

• m is approximately 1 (first-order with respect to thiosulfate)

• n is approximately 0 (zero-order with respect to HCl)

Thus, the reaction rate depends primarily on sodium thiosulfate concentration and
not on hydrochloric acid concentration in most experimental conditions.

3. What is the rate law for the reaction?

The rate law for the reaction between sodium thiosulfate Na2S2O3 and hydrochloric
acid HCl is determined experimentally. Based on kinetics studies, the reaction
follows:

Na2S2O3 (aq) + 2HCI (ag) → 2NaCl (aq) + H2O) + SO2 (g) + S(s)

Experimental Rate Law

Rate= k[Na2S2O3]1[HCl]0

Explanation:

1. First-Order with Respect to Sodium Thiosulfate:

• Experimental data shows that the reaction rate is directly proportional

to the concentration of sodium thiosulfate.
• Doubling Na2S2O3 approximately doubles the reaction rate.

2. Zero-Order with Respect to Hydrochloric Acid:

• The reaction rate does not significantly change when [HCl] is altered,
suggesting a zero-order dependence on HCl.
• This happens because H+ is in excess and does not influence the rate-
determining step.

Final Rate Law:

Rate= k[Na2S2O3]

Thus, the reaction is first-order with respect to sodium thiosulfate and zero-order
with respect to hydrochloric acid.
Appendix 3: Exercise

Comment on the rate constant and temperature.

Effect of Temperature on the Rate Constant k.

The rate constant k for the reaction between sodium thiosulfate and hydrochloric acid
increases with temperature. This follows the Arrhenius equation:

� = ��−��/��

Why Does k Increase with Temperature?

1. Higher Kinetic Energy: As temperature increases, molecules move

faster, leading to more frequent and energetic collisions.

2. More Successful Collisions: A higher proportion of molecules have

energy equal to or greater than Ea., increasing the likelihood of reaction.

3. Exponential Relationship: The Arrhenius equation shows that even a

small increase in T causes a significant increase in k.

Experimental Observation

• If the experiment is repeated at higher temperatures, the reaction time

decreases, indicating a faster reaction rate.
• Plotting ln k vs. 1/T (Arrhenius plot) gives a straight line with slope -
Ea/R, allowing the determination of activation energy.
Appendix 4: Data collection.