Magnesium reacts with acid to give a salt and hydrogen. Will this reaction happen faster using magnesium ribbon or magnesium powder?

1. Break Down the Problem

To determine whether magnesium ribbon or magnesium powder reacts faster with acid, we need to consider the factors that influence reaction rates, primarily surface area.

2. Relevant Concepts

• Reaction Rates: The rate of a chemical reaction can depend on the surface area of the reactants.
• Surface Area: Powdered substances have a larger surface area compared to solid chunks, allowing for more collisions between reactant molecules.
• Collision Theory: Reactions occur when particles collide with sufficient energy and the correct orientation.

3. Analysis and Detail

Magnesium powder has a significantly higher surface area compared to magnesium ribbon. Because of this, more magnesium particles are available to react with the acid at any given time. In a reaction involving magnesium and an acid (such as hydrochloric acid), the powdered form will provide more points of contact for the acid to interact, leading to an increased frequency of successful collisions between the acid molecules and the magnesium particles.

4. Verify and Summarize

Based on the collision theory and the principles of reaction kinetics, using magnesium powder will enhance the reaction rate due to its larger surface area compared to magnesium ribbon. Thus, the same amount of magnesium in powdered form will react with acid more quickly than in ribbon form.

Final Answer

The reaction will happen faster using magnesium powder than magnesium ribbon due to the increased surface area that allows for more frequent collisions with acid molecules.