Rates of Chemical Reaction

Contents & notes: what this topic covers

Under Rates of Chemical Reaction, the JAMB Chemistry syllabus expects you to study:

• 12. Rates of Chemical Reaction
• (a) Elementary treatment of the following (i) identi factors which can change the rate of a ch chemical reaction; (ii) d t
• (i) Temperature e.g. the reaction between HCl and Na2S2O3 or Mg and HCl
• (ii) Concentration/ Pressure e.g. the reaction between HCl and Na2S2O3, HCl and marble and the iodine clock reaction. For gaseous systems, pressure may be used as concentration term
• (iii) Surface area e.g. the reaction between marble and HCl with marble in:
• (i) powdered form; and
• (ii) lumps of the same mass.
• (iv) Catalyst e.g. the decomposition of H2O2 or KClO3 in the presence or absence of MnO2
• (b) Reaction rate curves
• (c) Activation energy Qualitative treatment of Arrhenius’ law and the collision theory, effect of light on some reactions e.g. halogenation of alkanes

Study notes & guidance

Study Rates of Chemical Reaction using a recommended Chemistry textbook that follows the JAMB syllabus. Work through the contents listed above one by one, make brief notes in your own words, and then practise as many questions on this topic as you can — in Chemistry, understanding and steady practice matter far more than memorising. Use the objectives below as a checklist: if you can do each one confidently, you have mastered this topic.

Objectives — candidates should be able to

After studying Rates of Chemical Reaction, you should be able to:

1. Fy the factors that affect the rates of a emical reaction; etermine the effects of temperature on he rate of reactions; (iii) examine the effect of concentration/ pressure on the rate of a chemical reaction; (iv) describe how the rate of a chemical is affected by surface area; (v) determine the types of catalysts suitable for different reactions and their effects; (vi) determine ways of moderating these effects in chemical reactions; (vii) interpret reaction rate curves; (viii) solve simple problems on the rate of reactions; (ix) relate the rate of reaction to the kinetic theory of matter; (x) examine the significance of activation energy to chemical reactions; and (xi) deduce the value of activation energy(Ea) from reaction rate curves.

These objectives are from the official JAMB syllabus. Use them as a checklist — if you can do each one confidently, you have mastered this topic.

Source: official JAMB UTME Chemistry syllabus (IBASS, jamb.gov.ng). Reproduced for study use. Last checked: 17 Sept 2026. Always confirm the current syllabus on the official portal.