1.
At high concentrations of HCl (0.7M, 0.9M, 1.1M and 1.3M) the reaction is indeed zero order. This means that the rate of the reaction is independent of the concentration of HCl. In this regime, the reaction rate depends on how fast the H^+ ions react with Na2S2O3, rather than on the availability of H^+ ions.
2.
However, at lower concentrations of HCl (0.5 M) the reaction rate decreases rapidly.
3.
It can be seen that the availability of H^+ ions is limiting the reaction. Your explanation of this behaviour is correct: at high concentrations of HCl, there are sufficient H^+ ions to sustain the reaction and other factors limit the reaction rate.
4.
However, at lower concentrations, the availability of H^+ ions becomes the limiting reactant and the reaction rate decreases. Edit: A limiting reactant is the first reactant in a chemical reaction that produces the least amount of product, either by being completely consumed and by stopping the chemical reaction.
5.
To further support your conclusion, you could try plotting the reaction rate against the concentration of HCl. If the reaction is zero order, the plot shall be a horizontal line. If the reaction is first order, the plot shall be a straight line with a positive slope.
1.
At high concentrations of HCl (0.7M, 0.9M, 1.1M and 1.3M) the reaction is indeed zero order. This means that the rate of the reaction is independent of the concentration of HCl. In this regime, the reaction rate depends on how fast the H^+ ions react with Na2S2O3, rather than on the availability of H^+ ions.
2.
However, at lower concentrations of HCl (0.5 M) the reaction rate decreases rapidly.
3.
It can be seen that the availability of H^+ ions is limiting the reaction. Your explanation of this behaviour is correct: at high concentrations of HCl, there are sufficient H^+ ions to sustain the reaction and other factors limit the reaction rate.
4.
However, at lower concentrations, the availability of H^+ ions becomes the limiting reactant and the reaction rate decreases.
5.
To further support your conclusion, you could try plotting the reaction rate against the concentration of HCl. If the reaction is zero order, the plot shall be a horizontal line. If the reaction is first order, the plot shall be a straight line with a positive slope.
•
t=1 is quoted on the web. and found to be so in most reliable experiments (but not all).
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The reaction has been shown to be a multi-step complex mechanism, so what order h is I don't know?
•
I've come across references that indicates the order h could be 0–1 depending on the relative concentrations of thiosulfate and acid.
•
Whatever, the orders t and h can only be found by experiment and the mechanism is likely to be complex”
•
t=1 is quoted on the web. and found to be so in most reliable experiments (but not all).
•
The reaction has been shown to be a multi-step complex mechanism, so what order h is I don't know?
•
I've come across references that indicates the order h could be 0–1 depending on the relative concentrations of thiosulfate and acid.
•
Whatever, the orders t and h can only be found by experiment and the mechanism is likely to be complex”
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