Home

Home
Common Compounds
Exam Guide
FAQ
Features
Glossary
Construction Kits
Companion Notes
Just Ask Antoine!
Simulations
Slide Index
Toolbox
Tutorial Index

FAQ
Introduction
Measurement
Matter
Atoms & ions
Compounds
Chemical change
The mole
Gases
Energy & change
The quantum theory
Electrons in atoms
The periodic table
Chemical bonds
Solids
Liquids
Solutions
Acids & bases
Redox reactions
Reaction rates
Organic chemistry
Everyday chemistry
Inorganic chemistry
Environmental chemistry
Laboratory
History of chemistry
Miscellaneous


Home :FAQ :Reaction ratesPrint | Comment
Previous Question Next Question

What are everyday examples of temperature effects on reaction rate?

Could you give me an example in our daily life which shows that reaction rate is depending on temperature and concentration?
Katherine (sevenmagic@usa.net)

Here are just a few everyday demonstrations that temperature changes the rate of chemical reaction:
  • Cookies bake faster at higher temperatures.
  • Bread dough rises more quickly in a warm place than in a cool one.
  • Low body temperatures slow down metabolism. In fact, warm-blooded animals regulate body temperature so that their biochemical reactions run at the correct rate.
  • Lightsticks produce light via a chemical reaction. Dropping a lightstick into hot water makes it glow more intensely, demonstrating that the reaction runs faster at higher temperature.
Increasing the concentration of reactants also changes reaction rate:
  • Two antacid tablets will neutralize a given amount of acid faster than one tablet will.
  • Higher concentrations of acid in rain erode marble faster than lower concentrations.

Author: Fred Senese senese@antoine.frostburg.edu



General Chemistry Online! What are everyday examples of temperature effects on reaction rate?

Copyright © 1997-2010 by Fred Senese
Comments & questions to fsenese@frostburg.edu
Last Revised 02/23/18.URL: http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101/kinetics/faq/everyday-kinetics.shtml