Which of the following is NOT a way to speed up a chemical reaction? (Select all that apply)
increasing the concentration of one of the reactants
b
increasing the temperature of one of the reactants
c
decreasing the temperature of one of the reactants
d
decreasing the surface area of one of the reactants
decreasing the temperature of one of the reactants
The correct answer is c) decreasing the temperature of one of the reactants.
To determine which of the options is NOT a way to speed up a chemical reaction, we need to consider each option and evaluate whether it is a way to increase the rate of the reaction.
a) Increasing the concentration of one of the reactants: This is a valid way to speed up a chemical reaction. When the concentration of a reactant is increased, more particles are available for collision, leading to an increased rate of reaction.
b) Increasing the temperature of one of the reactants: This is another valid way to speed up a chemical reaction. Increasing the temperature provides more thermal energy to the reactant particles, resulting in faster and more frequent collisions, which increases the reaction rate.
c) Decreasing the temperature of one of the reactants: This is the option that is NOT a way to speed up a chemical reaction. Lowering the temperature decreases the kinetic energy of the reactant particles, leading to slower and less frequent collisions. This decreases the reaction rate.
d) Decreasing the surface area of one of the reactants: This is another valid way to speed up a chemical reaction. When the surface area of a reactant is decreased, there is less area available for contact with other reactant particles. This reduces the number of collision sites and lowers the reaction rate.
Based on the explanations above, the correct answer is option (c) - decreasing the temperature of one of the reactants.