Why controlling reaction rates are important to your daily life?

Answer 1

Rate of reactions are used in many things in daily life. For example;

- Enzymes:

Enzymes are biological catalysts (substances with increase the rate of reactions). They quicken the rate at which food is broken down.

- Washing Clothes:

Temperature affects the rate of reactions. The higher the temperature the quicker the particles move. If they move quicker there is a bigger chance that they will collide (search the collision theory). This is why the temperature at which clothes are washed is important. There are enzymes in washing powder. They work well at a certain temperature, but when the temperature gets too hot, they do not work. The proteins that make up the enzyme are "denatured". (search how enzymes work)

- Fridges

Again, at a lower temperature the rate of reaction is less. So in a fridge reactions happen slower so foods rot slower (as rotting is also a chemical reaction)

Hope this helps! I looked on the internet for this question too, but it doesn't help. I found these answers in the Chemistry for You book by Lawrie Ryan. They're really useful.