Which of the following would lead to an increased rate of reaction for gaseous reactants?

• A. Diluting the reactant gases with an inert gas
• B. Increasing the pressure of the reactant gases
• C. Removing a catalyst from the reaction mixture
• D. Decreasing the temperature of the reaction vessel

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that the rate of reaction for gaseous reactants depends on the frequency of effective collisions between reactant molecules.
2. Recall that increasing the pressure of gaseous reactants effectively increases their concentration, which leads to more frequent collisions and thus a higher reaction rate.
3. Recognize that diluting the reactant gases with an inert gas decreases the partial pressure (concentration) of the reactants, which lowers the collision frequency and slows the reaction rate.
4. Know that removing a catalyst reduces the number of available pathways with lower activation energy, thereby decreasing the reaction rate.
5. Remember that decreasing the temperature reduces the kinetic energy of molecules, leading to fewer effective collisions and a slower reaction rate.