Acids, Bases & Rates of Reaction
Key facts on pH, neutralisation equations, and the factors that change reaction rate.
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Questions Covered in This Set
10 cards to master
What ion do all acids release in water?
Hydrogen ions, H⁺ (e.g. HCl → H⁺ + Cl⁻).
What is the difference between a base and an alkali?
A base neutralises an acid; an alkali is a base that dissolves in water and releases OH⁻ ions.
Strong vs concentrated acid — what's the difference?
Strong = fully ionises in water (e.g. HCl). Concentrated = large amount of acid dissolved per litre. They are independent ideas.
How much more acidic is pH 3 than pH 5?
100× more acidic — each pH step down means 10× greater H⁺ concentration.
Give the ionic equation for neutralisation.
H⁺ + OH⁻ → H₂O
Acid + carbonate → ?
Salt + water + carbon dioxide, e.g. 2HCl + CaCO₃ → CaCl₂ + H₂O + CO₂.
Acid + metal → ?
Salt + hydrogen, e.g. H₂SO₄ + Mg → MgSO₄ + H₂ (hydrogen gives a squeaky pop).
Why does raising temperature increase rate? (2 marks)
Particles move faster so collide more frequently, AND a greater proportion of collisions have energy ≥ activation energy.
How does a catalyst speed up a reaction?
It provides an alternative pathway with lower activation energy, so more collisions are successful; it is not used up.
On a product-vs-time graph, what do the steepness and final height show?
Steeper line = faster rate; final height depends on the amount of limiting reactant, not the rate.
