Lesson · S.3.4
What affects the rate of a reaction
Temperature, concentration, surface area, and catalysts, and how each one speeds up or slows down a chemical reaction on the TEAS.
ObjectiveS.3.4Read1 minExam weightChemistry ≈ 18% of Science
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- Explain how temperature, concentration, surface area, and catalysts affect reaction rate.
- Predict which of two conditions will produce a faster reaction.
- Distinguish how added heat affects endothermic versus exothermic reactions.
What the lesson concludes
- Raising temperature speeds most reactions up by increasing particle energy and collision force.
- Higher concentration means more particles available to react, so the reaction speeds up.
- Greater surface area exposes more particles to collisions, speeding a reaction.
- A catalyst lowers the energy barrier to reaction without being consumed, so more collisions succeed.
- Endothermic reactions tend to speed up with added heat; exothermic reactions can slow down.