Background: When a solid substance is involved in a chemical reaction, only the matter at the surface of the solid is exposed to other reactants. If a solid has more surface area, more of it is exposed and able to react. Therefore, increasing the surface area of solid reactants increases the reaction rate. Look at the hammer and nails pictured in the Figure below . Both are made of iron and will rust when the iron combines with oxygen in the air. However, the nails have a greater surface area, so they will rust faster.

Situation: John and his neighbor both erected metal sheds in their yard John put his shed directly against his house so that only 3 sides were exposed to the elements. His neighbor Bob but his shed at the end of his yard leaving all four sides exposed.

Question: Who's shed will rust the fastest

Situation: John and his neighbor both erected metal sheds in their yard John put his shed directly against his house so that only 3 sides were exposed to the elements. His neighbor Bob but his shed at the end of his yard leaving all four sides exposed.

Question: Who's shed will rust the slowest?

Situation: John and his neighbor both erected metal sheds in their yard John put his shed directly against his house so that only 3 sides were exposed to the elements. His neighbor Bob but his shed at the end of his yard leaving all four sides exposed.

Question: Which shed will undergo achemical reaction?

Situation: John and his neighbor both erected metal sheds in their yard John put his shed directly against his house so that only 3 sides were exposed to the elements. His neighbor Bob but his shed at the end of his yard leaving all four sides exposed.

Question: Who's shed has a greater reaction rate?

Situation: John and his neighbor both erected metal sheds in their yard John put his shed directly against his house so that only 3 sides were exposed to the elements. His neighbor Bob but his shed at the end of his yard leaving all four sides exposed.

Question: Who's shed has a smaller reaction rate?

Situation: Sam and Beth both had a bad cold. Sam dug around in the medicine cabinet until he found some alka-seltzer cold tablets and grab a back for each of them and 2 glasses of water. Sam dropped his tablets straight into the water. Beth crushed her tablets into a powder then poured the powder into her glass of water.

Question: Who's alka-seltzer dissolved faster?

Situation: Sam and Beth both had a bad cold. Sam dug around in the medicine cabinet until he found some alka-seltzer cold tablets and grab a back for each of them and 2 glasses of water. Sam dropped his tablets straight into the water. Beth crushed her tablets into a powder then poured the powder into her glass of water.

Question: Who's alka-seltzer dissolved slower?

Situation: Sam and Beth both had a bad cold. Sam dug around in the medicine cabinet until he found some alka-seltzer cold tablets and grab a back for each of them and 2 glasses of water. Sam dropped his tablets straight into the water. Beth crushed her tablets into a powder then poured the powder into her glass of water.

Question: Who's alka-seltzer had a lager surface area?

Situation: Sam and Beth both had a bad cold. Sam dug around in the medicine cabinet until he found some alka-seltzer cold tablets and grab a back for each of them and 2 glasses of water. Sam dropped his tablets straight into the water. Beth crushed her tablets into a powder then poured the powder into her glass of water.

Question: Who's alka-seltzer had a smaller surface area?

Situation: Sam and Beth both had a bad cold. Sam dug around in the medicine cabinet until he found some alka-seltzer cold tablets and grab a back for each of them and 2 glasses of water. Sam dropped his tablets straight into the water. Beth crushed her tablets into a powder then poured the powder into her glass of water.

Question: Who's alka-seltzer had a faster reaction rate?

Situation: Sam and Beth both had a bad cold. Sam dug around in the medicine cabinet until he found some alka-seltzer cold tablets and grab a back for each of them and 2 glasses of water. Sam dropped his tablets straight into the water. Beth crushed her tablets into a powder then poured the powder into her glass of water.

Question: Who's alka-seltzer had a slower reaction rate?

Situation: Sam and Beth both had a bad cold. Sam dug around in the medicine cabinet until he found some alka-seltzer cold tablets and grab a back for each of them and 2 glasses of water. Sam dropped his tablets straight into the water. Beth crushed her tablets into a powder then poured the powder into her glass of water.

Question: Who had more alka-seltzer exposed to the reactant?

Situation: Sam and Beth both had a bad cold. Sam dug around in the medicine cabinet until he found some alka-seltzer cold tablets and grab a back for each of them and 2 glasses of water. Sam dropped his tablets straight into the water. Beth crushed her tablets into a powder then poured the powder into her glass of water.

Question: Who had less alka-seltzer exposed to the reactant?

Situation: Sam and Beth both had a bad cold. Sam dug around in the medicine cabinet until he found some alka-seltzer cold tablets and grab a back for each of them and 2 glasses of water. Sam dropped his tablets straight into the water. Beth crushed her tablets into a powder then poured the powder into her glass of water.

Question: Would breaking up his tablets increase or decrease the rate of reaction for Sam's tablets?

Situation: Sam and Beth both had a bad cold. Sam dug around in the medicine cabinet until he found some alka-seltzer cold tablets and grab a back for each of them and 2 glasses of water. Sam dropped his tablets straight into the water. Beth crushed her tablets into a powder then poured the powder into her glass of water.

Question: Would crushing the tablets to a finer powder increase or decrease the rate of reaction for Beth's tablets?