Factors that affect the rate of a chemical reaction.

Inhibitors

Extra ingredients added to the reactants to slow down the reaction.

Catalysts

Extra ingredients added to the reactants to speed up the reaction.

Concentration

Increasing the concentration of the reactants in the container will increase the chances of a collision between reactants and therefore increase the rate. Decreasing the concentration of one or both reactants will decrease the chances of a collision and therefore slow the rate of the reaction.

Surface Area

Increasing the surface area of the reactants allows for more chance of the reactants colliding because more of them are exposed and therefore increase the rate of the reaction. Decreasing the surface area of the reactants lessens the chance of the reactants colliding because fewer of them are exposed and therefore decreases the rate of the reaction.

Temperaturer

Increasing the temperature of the reactants causes the molecules to move faster which creates high energy collisions and increases the rate of the chemical reaction. Decreasing the temperature of the reactants causes the molecules to move slower which creates low energy collisions and decreases the rate of the chemical reaction.

Inhibitors v. Catalysts

Inhibitors- slow down reaction. Catalysts- speed up reaction.