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GCSE Chemistry · key term
The total area of the exposed outer surfaces of a solid.
Used by AQA, Edexcel and OCR
Specification 4.6.1.2 · Paper 2
The total area of a solid exposed to its surroundings.
Revise: Factors Affecting RateThe same mass of powdered solid therefore has a greater surface area than a single lump and usually reacts faster. Larger pieces, with less exposed surface area for that mass, react more slowly.
Paper 1, Paper 2
The area covered by a film, measured in units such as cm² or m².
Specification CM2.3v, CM2.3vi, C2.3h, C5.2c, C5.2e, PAG 8 · Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Higher), Paper 4 (Higher)
The total area of all the exposed outer faces of an object.
Revise: Ratios in Surface AreaA surface area to volume ratio therefore depends on the size of the object; it is not a fixed property of a shape such as a cube.
The total area of all the outside faces of a three-dimensional object, measured in square units such as cm².
The total area of the exposed outer surfaces of an object or collection of particles, measured in squared units.
The area of a solid’s outer surface that is exposed to its surroundings, measured in units such as cm².
The total area of a solid that is exposed and available to react.
Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Higher), Paper 4 (Higher)
The total area of the outside of an object or particle, measured in square units such as cm².
Revise: Surface area to volume ratioAs a particle becomes smaller, both its surface area and its volume decrease—but its volume decreases more rapidly. The smaller particle therefore has more surface area relative to each unit of volume: it has a higher surface area to volume ratio.
The total area of all the outside faces of a three-dimensional object, measured in square units.
The total area of a solid that is exposed to the other reactant or reactants.
Match the factor to the reactant: concentration applies to solutions, pressure to reacting gases and surface area to solids.
Put surface area first when writing a surface area : volume ratio, unless the question specifies otherwise.
Do not claim that one small particle has a greater total surface area than one large particle. It has a greater surface area compared with its volume; many small particles can also have a greater combined surface area than the same volume of material in one large piece.
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