A self-heating container uses a reaction that releases energy. Two catalysts are tested. Equal quantities of reactants at 20 °C are used in identical insulated containers, and both reactions go to completion.
| Catalyst | Activation energy in kJ/mol | Time taken to reach the highest temperature in s | Highest temperature in °C |
|---|---|---|---|
| M | 76 | 110 | 44 |
| N | 49 | 65 | 44 |
Use the data and collision theory to explain which catalyst should be selected when the container must warm up as quickly as possible.
Explain why both tests reached the same highest temperature.
127 exam-style questions on AQA GCSE Chemistry 6.1 Rate of reaction, covering 6.1.1a Calculating rates of reactions, 6.1.1b Gradient of a tangent as rate, 6.1.2 Factors which affect the rates of chemical reactions, 6.1.3 Collision theory and activation energy, and 6.1.4 Catalysts. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.