When dilute sulfuric acid reacts with marble, carbon dioxide gas is produced. Out of the choices below, which will increase the rate of reaction...

The rate of a chemical reaction is increased by factors that increase the rate of collisions between reactant particles or that result in higher energy collisions. Some examples are:

• Shaking or stirring the reaction mixutre


• increasing the temperature of the reaction mixture


• increasing the concentration of one or more reactants


• increasing the surface area of a solid reactant

Let's look at the possibilities given in the problem:

Using a larger or smaller open container for reactants in aqueous solution doesn't affect the frequency or energy of collisions between particles so neither of these will significantly affect the rate of the reaction. 

Using powdered marble will increase the rate of the chemical reaction because it results in more surface area, increasing the number of collisions with the acid particles.

Using larger marble chunks will decrease the rate of the chemical reaction because it results in less surface area so the number of collisions between reactant particles will decrease.