Key-term

Definition

Chemistry Topic 7 Equilibrium

Description/ Extra info.

Equilibrium state The state in which both

The state of equilibrium is reached in a closed system

reactants and products are
when the forward reaction proceeds at the same rate
present in concentrations
as the reverse reaction.
which have no further
tendency to change with
time.

Physical systems
(?)

What happens when some

bromine is placed in a sealed
container at room
temperature??

It will reach equilibrium states, where the bromine

molecules interchangeably convert state. When a
bromine becomes a gas, another bromine molecules
turns into a liquid.

Chemical systems What happens in the

dissociation reaction
(?)

between hydrogen iodide

(HI) and its elements
hydrogen and iodine?

2HI H2 + I2
Hydrogen and hydrogen iodide are both colourless,
however iodine is purple. So, we can use colour to
establish equilibrium.
You can see a buildup of the purple gas,
which then changes to colourless.

Diagram

Key-term
Features of the
equilibrium state..

Equilibrium
constant Kc

Definition
1) Dynamic.
2) Achieved in closed system
3) Concentrations of R and P
remain constant at eqm.
4) At eqm, there is no change in
macroscopic properties.
5) Eqm can be reached from
both directions

Description/ Extra info.

Diagram

The reaction has not stopped but both forward and backward reactions
are still occurring in the same rate.
A closed system has no exchange with outside matter, so products and
reactants are able to react constantly with one another.
They are being produced and destroyed at the same rate.
The macroscopic (eg. colour and density) do not change as they depend
on the concentrations of the components in the mixture.
The same equilibrium will result under the same conditions.

..Defined with as the concentration

of the products on the numerator and
the concentration of the products on
the denominator, each raised to the
power of their coefficients.
.Can be predicted from a reactants
stoichiometry.

The magnitude of ...gives information about how far a If.

reaction goes at a particular
the equilibrium
temperature, but not about how fast it
Kc = 10-3 The system has not reached equilibrium.
constant Kc.
will achieve the equilibrium state.
Kc < 1 The reaction is in favor of reactants. (backwards)
Kc > 1 . The reaction is in favor of products. (forwards)
Reaction
quotient.

...is a measure of the relative

amounts of reactant and products
present in a reaction at particular
time.

.its value is determined from subtracting concentrations of reaction

components, all measured at the same time, into the equilibrium expression.

H2 + I2 2HI
Q=
[HI]2
[H2] [I2]

Q = Kc... equilibrium
Q < Kc forward
Q > Kc backward

Key-term

Definition

Kc for the inverse The inverse reaction defines

the products as reactants and
reaction.
vice versa.

Description/ Extra info.

Diagram

cC + dD aA + bB

= [C]c[D]d
[A]a[B]b
1sd
. it Kc can be noted as Kc . So..
Kc1 = 1
Kc

Kc for a multiple of
a reaction.

Kc1

Effect on eqm expression

According to Le Chatelier's
Subjecting the
system to change principles:

When a system at
equilibrium is
subjected to a
change, it will
respond in such a
way as to minimize
the effect of the
change.

Effect on Kc

Increase in concentration of reactants/ decrease in concentration of products.

Equilibrium will shift to the right (so more products produced).
Rate of forward reaction increases.
reaction rate will no be the same.
Kc remains the same.
Increase in pressure.
Equilibrium will shift to the side with less molecules.
Kc remains the same
Increase in temperature.
Backward reaction.
Kc decrease (it is temperature dependent. more reactants. P/R)
New equilibrium position is established.
Addition of catalyst.
Speeds up the rate of reaction by providing an alternate pathway that has a transition state with a
lower activation energy does not change equilibrium position and will not affect Kc.

Key-term

Definition

The Haber
process
H = -93 kj mol-1
forward = exothermic

The contact
process

Steps:
i. The combustion of
sulfur to form sulfur
dioxide.
ii. The oxidation of
sulfur dioxide to
form sulfur trioxide.
iii. The combination of
sulfur trioxide with
water to form
sulfuric acid.

Description/ Extra info.

Diagram

Concentration
Ammonia gas is withdrawn.
Concentration of products decreases.
Reaction will proceed in the forward direction
Product yield increases.
Pressure
As the forward reaction involved a decrease in the number of gas molecules, it will favored by
high pressure.
2 x 107 pa
Temperature
Forward reaction is exothermic.
Lower temperature will help in forward reaction.
However, the rate of reaction will decrease, is the temperature is low,
So it is put in an optimum/moderate temperature of 450 o C
Catalyst
Finely divided iron with aluminum and magnesium oxides is used to improve the reactions
activity.
Concentration
Remove 2SO3
Pressure
As the forward reaction involved a
decrease in the number of gas molecules,
it will favored by high pressure.
2 x 105 pa
Temperature
Forward reaction is exothermic.
optimum/moderate temperature of
450 o C
Catalyst
Vanadium (V) oxide

Key-term
The production of
Methanol

Definition

Description/ Extra info.

Concentration
Remove CH3OH
Pressure
As the forward reaction involved a
decrease in the number of gas molecules,
it will favored by high pressure.
5-10 x 106 Pa
Temperature
Forward reaction is exothermic,
250 oC
Catalyst
Cu-ZnO-Al2O3

Diagram

- 90 kJ mol-1

Chemistry topic 17.1 The equilibrium law

Answer

Key-term

Question

Calculate the
equilibrium
constant (?)

A student placed a 0.2 mol of

PCl3 and 0.1 mol of Cl2 into a
1.0 dm3 flask at 350oC. The
flask contained 0.12 mol of PCl3 Initial:
0.20
Change:
-0.08
. (after eqm)...What is the value
of Kc?
Equilibrium: 0.12

Notes:

0.10
-0.08
0.02

0.0
+0.08
0.08

Product initial concentration is always

zero,
The change is the same throughout.
The reactant change is always
negative, while the product change is
always positive.

Kc = [C]c[D]d =
0.08
= 33
a
b
[A] [B]
[0.12][0.02]

Calculating
equilibrium
concentrations
from the
equilibrium
constant (?)

The reaction:
CO + 2H2 CH3OH
has Kc = 0.500 at 350 K. If the
concentration at equilibrium
are:

Kc = [C]c[D]d 0.5 =
x
[A]a[B]b
[0.2][0.155]2
= 0.0024 mol dm

CO = 0.200 mol
H2 = 0.155 mol
What is the equilibrium
concentration of CH3OH

when Kc is very
small.

When Kc value is less than 10-3:

Free energy and

equilibrium

G = Negative Forward
G = 0 Equilibrium
G = Positive Backward

[Reactant]initial = [Reactant] equilibrium

G = G products -- G reactants
G= -RTLnKc