Apply: Hydrochloric acid reacts with the mineral calcite to produce carbon dioxide gas, water, and calcium chloride. Based on what you have learned in activity A and activity B, what are three things you could do to make the reaction occur more quickly? (Hint: Thinks about the 3 variables you tested in each part of the Gizmo).
1. Increase the concentration of hydrochloric acid: By using a higher concentration of hydrochloric acid, there will be more reactant molecules available to collide with calcite particles, increasing the chances of a successful reaction taking place.
2. Increase the surface area of the calcite: Breaking the calcite into smaller pieces or increasing the surface area of the calcite sample will provide more reactive sites for the hydrochloric acid to come into contact with, speeding up the rate of reaction.
3. Increase the temperature: Raising the temperature of the reaction mixture will provide the reactant molecules with more kinetic energy, leading to more frequent and energetic collisions between hydrochloric acid and calcite, resulting in a faster reaction rate.