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Here's your shmoop du jour, brought to you by Catalysts.

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Which are generally much more focused than Dogalysts.

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Which of the following influences the rate of a chemical reaction?

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So we're looking for what affects the rate of a chemical reaction. Other than, you know...

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someone cracking a whip and ordering it to hurry the heck up.

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First, let's think about what a chemical reaction is. It's when two or more molecules react

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with each other to form a different molecule.

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Going even more granular, a reaction takes place when collisions take place between the

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reactant particles to form a different arrangement of molecules.

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Let's look at the first answer choice. Concentration of reactants.

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Reactants are just a fancy name for the molecules that are reacting with each other.

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The left side of a chemical equation.

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Thinking logically, if we add more molecules

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to a solution, because there are more molecules and hence more atoms to collide with each

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other, the reaction will typically go faster. Yes, more collisions means faster.

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So the concentration affects the rate. But before we just pick answer choice A, let's

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keep looking. Answer choice B. The temperature. Temperature

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is a measure of the average kinetic energy. Kinetic means movement, so in other words,

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temperature affects the number of collisions that take place.

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Higher temperatures would help speed up a reaction.

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Therefore, Choice (B) is also a true statement.

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We know that C must be true because the only

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choices we have left are C and D...and answer choice D says ALL OF THE ABOVE.

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But let's just take a look at C to be extra sure. The presence of a catalyst.

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Well of course a catalyst will influence the speed, or rate, of a chemical reaction.

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That's the point of a catalyst...to help the reactants form products faster. So again,

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the rate is affected. Our answer's D.

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As in, "Dogalyst..."

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