Rate of Reaction of Sodium
Thiosulfate and Hydrochloric Acid
Rate Laws
Introduction
The purpose of this demonstration is to investigate the effect of sodium thiosulfate concentration on the rate of reaction
of sodium thiosulfate with hydrochloric acid. The reaction, which produces solid sulfur, will be followed by measuring the
time needed for the reaction mixture to become opaque. The results will be analyzed graphically to determine the order of
reaction—the mathematical relationship between the reactant concentration and the rate.
Concepts
• Kinetics • Rate law
• Order of reaction • Concentration
Materials
Hydrochloric acid solution, HCl, 2 M, 25 mL Graduated cylinders, 10-mL, 5
Sodium thiosulfate solution, Na
2
S
2
O
3
, 0.15 M, 150 mL Overhead projector or light box
Distilled or deionized water Permanent marker
Beakers, 100-mL, 5 Stirring rods
Graduated cylinders, 50- or 100-mL, 2 Stopwatch or timer
Safety Precautions
Hydrochloric acid solution is corrosive to eyes and skin. It is moderately toxic by ingestion and inhalation. Sodium thiosulfate solution is
a body tissue irritant. The reaction of sodium thiosulfate and hydrochloric acid generates sulfur dioxide gas, which is a skin and eye
irritant. Perform this demonstration in a well-ventilated lab only. Avoid contact of all chemicals with eyes and skin. Wear chemical
splash goggles, temperature-resistant gloves, and chemical-resistant apron. Please review current Material Safety Data Sheets for
additional safety, handling, and disposal information.
Procedure
1. Label five 100-mL beakers 1–5 and clean the bottom of each beaker.
2. Draw a large “X” across the bottom on the outside of each beaker. Place the beakers on an overhead projector stage or
a light box so that students can view the “X.”
3. Using separate graduated cylinders for the solution and water, measure and add the required amounts of 0.15 M
sodium thiosulfate and distilled water to each beaker. Be as precise as possible.
Beaker 1 2 3 4 5
0.15 M
Na
2
S
2
O
3
50.0 mL 40.0 mL 30.0 mL 20.0 mL 10.0 mL
Distilled Water
0 mL 10.0 mL 20.0 mL 30.0 mL 40.0 mL
4. Have students calculate the final concentration of sodium thiosulfate in each beaker 1–5.
5. Record the following information in a data table: Beaker, volume of Na
2
S
2
O
3
solution, volume of distilled water,
concentration of Na
2
S
2
O
3
, reaction time (sec), and 1/reaction time (reaction rate). See the Sample Data and Results
table in the Discussion section.
6. Measure 5.0 mL of 2 M hydrochloric acid into each of five 10-mL graduated cylinders.
© 2017 Flinn Scientific, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 1
Publication No. 91860
031617
SCIENTIFIC
Rate of Reaction of Sodium Thiosulfate and Hydrochloric Acid continued
2
© 2017 Flinn Scientific, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
7. Starting with beaker #1, carefully add the HCl all in one pour to the sodium thiosulfate solution. Stir the solution once
with a stirring rod and immediately start timing.
8. Stop timing when the black “X” is no longer visible. Record the reaction time in seconds in the data table.
9. Repeat steps 7 and 8 with beakers 2–5.
10. Calculate 1/reaction time for each trial. Plot concentration vs. time and concentration vs. 1/time on separate graphs.
Disposal
Please consult your current Flinn Scientific Catalog/Reference Manual for general guidelines and specific procedures governing
the disposal of laboratory waste. Collect the leftover reaction mixtures and filter to separate the solid sulfur product. The sulfur
may be disposed of in a landfill according to Flinn Suggested Disposal Method #26a. The filtrate may be neutralized and
disposed of down the drain with excess water according to Flinn Suggested Disposal Method #26b.
Tips
• This activity may be performed as a chemical demonstration with classroom participation or as a student activity. The
contents of the beakers project well on an overhead projector and the time to the disappearance of the black “X” is easily
seen and measured.
• The reaction may be downsized for a student lab activity. Carry out individual trials in separate wells in a 6-well reaction
plate or in small medicine cups. If students will be doing the experiment in the lab, it is a good idea for them to start with
beaker #5, because it takes the longest time.
• The activity may also be performed as a cooperative class exercise with different groups investigating different variables,
including the effect of HCl concentration and the effect of temperature. The reaction rate is zero-order with respect to
HCl.
• Empty the beakers and clean them thoroughly using paper towels to remove the sulfur. If the colloidal sulfur is allowed to
sit in the beakers for an extended time, it will be much more difficult to remove the deposits from the glass.
• To achieve better mixing of the reactants, add the hydrochloric acid using a 10-mL luer-lock plastic syringe (without
needle). Squirt the acid using a fair amount of force.
• When lower concentrations of sodium thiosulfate are used, the rate law does not appear to be as simple as predicted in
this experiment. At lower concentrations, the reaction appears to be closer to 3/2-order in sodium thiosulfate and 1/2-
order in hydrochloric acid. The reaction time is more difficult to measure at lower concentrations because the onset of
turbidity is more gradual.
• Both the overall chemical equation and the mechanism for the decomposition of sodium thiosulfate are more complex
than suggested by Equation 1. The reaction is acid-catalyzed, which means that the acid concentration must have some
bearing on the rate in terms of producing an equilibrium concentration of HS
2
O
3
–
ions, The HS
2
O
3
–
ion is a reactive
intermediate, reacting further with additional S
2
O
3
2–
ions to produce polymeric ions containing multiple S atoms. When
the chain of S atoms in a polymeric ion becomes long enough, it “closes” in on itself to form a ring of elemental sulfur
(S
8
).
S
2
O
3
2–
+ H
+
<— —
— —>
HS
2
O
3
–
H—S—SO
3
–
+ nS
2
O
3
2–
→ H—S—(S)
n
—SO
3
–
+ nSO
3
2–
H—S—S
n
—SO
3
–
<— —
— —>
H
+
+
–
S—S
n
—SO
3
–
–
S—S
7
—SO
3
–
→ S
8
+ SO
3
2–
3
© 2017 Flinn Scientific, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Rate of Reaction of Sodium Thiosulfate and Hydrochloric Acid continued
Discussion
Sodium thiosulfate reacts with hydrochloric acid to form sulfur and sulfur dioxide (Equation 1).
Na
2
S
2
O
3
(aq) + 2HCl(aq) → S(s) + SO
2
(g) + 2NaCl(aq) Equation 1
The kinetics of the reaction can be analyzed by graphing the concentration of Na
2
S
2
O
3
as a function of both reaction time and
1/time. A plot of concentration versus time gives a curved line, which levels off as it approaches the x-axis—the reaction slows
down as the reactant concentration decreases. The rate of a reaction is inversely proportional to reaction time. A plot of
concentration of versus 1/time gives a straight line. The rate is directly proportional to concentration, and the reaction appears
to be first order with respect to sodium thiosulfate concentration.
Sample Data and Results
Beaker
Volume of
Na
2
S
2
O
3
(mL)
Volume of
H
2
O (mL)
[Na
2
S
2
O
3
], M
Reaction time
(sec)
Reaction rate
(1/time, sec
–1
)
1
50 0 0.15 22.5 .0444
2
40 10 0.12 27.3 .0367
3
30 20 0.090 35.1 .0285
4
20 30 0.060 60.0 .0167
5
10 40 0.030 159.1 .00629
Effect of concentration on reaction time
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20
Na
2
S
2
O
3
Concentration, M
Reaction time, sec
Effect of concentration on reaction rate
0
0.01
0.02
0.03
0.04
0.05
0.06
0.07
0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20
Na
2
S
2
O
3
Concentration, M
Reaction rate, sec
-1
Rate of Reaction of Sodium Thiosulfate and Hydrochloric Acid continued
4
© 2017 Flinn Scientific, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Connecting to the National Standards
This laboratory activity relates to the following National Science Education Standards (1996):
Unifying Concepts and Processes: Grades K–12
Evidence, models, and explanation
Constancy, change, and measurement
Content Standards: Grades 9–12
Content Standard A: Science as Inquiry
Content Standard B: Physical Science, structure and properties of matter, chemical reactions, motions and forces
Flinn Scientific—Teaching Chemistry
™
eLearning Video Series
A video of the Rate of Reaction of Sodium Thiosulfate and Hydrochloric Acid activity, presented by Annis Hapkiewicz, is available in
Rate Laws, part of the Flinn Scientific—Teaching Chemistry eLearning Video Series.
Materials for Rate of Reaction of Sodium Thiosulfate and Hydrochloric Acid are
available from Flinn Scientific, Inc.
Materials required to perform this activity are available in the Reaction Order and Rate Laws—Student Laboratory Kit available
from Flinn Scientific. Materials may also be purchased separately.
Catalog No. Description
AP4864 Reaction Order and Rate Laws—Student Laboratory Kit
H0034 Hydrochloric Acid, 3 M, 500 mL
S0114 Sodium Thiosulfate Pentahydrate, Reagent, 500 g
AP1572 Timer, Stopwatch, Flinn
GP1010 Beaker, Borosilicate Glass, 100 mL
GP2005 Graduated Cylinder, Borosilicate Glass, 10-mL
GP2015 Graduated Cylinder, Borosilicate Glass, 50-mL
Consult the Flinn Scientific website for current prices.
