Students should be able to give examples of fast reactions or slow reactions. They might suggest an explosion or the process of rusting. However, estimating the rate of a chemical change is extemely important because chemists in industry and education need to plan accordingly for the correct equipment, safety measures, reactant quantities and collection of products if necessary.

Fire and Flame: Part 3 

A series of short video clips of explosive and exciting chemical reactions, taken from a lecture called 'Fire and Flame' by Dr Peter Wothers at the University of Cambridge. In many examples here explosive reactions are observed. These are clearly rapid reactions but the advantage here is that the presenter talks about the chemistry that underpins his forecasting of the outcome of the reactions.

Rusting

Rusting of iron and steel is a commonly occurring process with which we are all familiar. This RSC/Nuffield Foundation resource provides experimental procedures for investigating the factors affecting the rate of rusting and is a useful activity to undertake with students aged 11 to 16.

Microbes and food production

Controlling rate of decay or fermentation is vitally important in food production. Microbes are responsible for the production of some foods, for example cheese and yoghurt. They are also responsible for food decay. The enzymes they contain are catalysts. This experiment shows how these microbes and enzymes affect various types of milk.

The rate of reaction between magnesium and hydrochloric acid

This resource describes the reaction between magnesium and dilute hydrochloric acid in a conical flask that is connected to an inverted measuring cylinder in a trough of water. The volume of hydrogen gas produced is measured over a few minutes, and the results are used to plot a graph.