Chapter 8 Equilibra Flashcards
Reversible reaction
- Some reactions go to completion where the reactants are used up to form the product molecules and the reaction stops when all of the reactants are used up
- In reversible reactions the products can react to reform the original reactants
- To show a reversible reaction, two half arrows are used: ⇌
Dynamic equilibrium
In a dynamic equilibrium the reactants and products are dynamic (they are constantly moving)
-In a dynamic equilibrium the rate of the forward reaction is the same as the rate of the backward reaction in a closed system and the concentrations of the reactants and products is constant
A closed system
is one in which none of the reactants or products escape from the reaction mixture
In an open system
some matter is lost to the surroundings
Le Chatelier’s principle
says that if a change is made to a system at dynamic equilibrium, the position of the equilibrium moves to minimise this change
-The principle is used to predict changes to the position of equilibrium when there are changes in temperature, pressure or concentration
The position of the equilibrium
refers to the relative amounts of products and reactants in an equilibrium mixture.
- When the position of equilibrium shifts to the left, it means the concentration of reactants increases
- When the position of equilibrium shifts to the right, it means the concentration of products increases
Effects of concentration: increase in concentration of reactants and how does the equilibrium shifts
equilibrium shifts to the right to reduce the effect of increase in the concentration of a reactant
Effects of concentration: increase in concentration of products and how does the equilibrium shifts
equilibrium shifts to the left to reduce the effect of increase in the concentration of product
Effects of pressure: increase in pressure and how does the equilibrium shifts
equilibrium shifts in the direction that produces the smaller number of molecules of gas to decrease the pressure again
Effects of pressure: decrease in pressure and how does the equilibrium shifts
equilibrium shifts in the direction that produces the larger number of molecules of gas to increase the pressure again
Effects of catalysts: on equilibrium
- A catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction (they increase the rate of the forward and reverse reaction equally)
- Catalysts only cause a reaction to reach its equilibrium faster
- Catalysts therefore have no effect on the position of the equilibrium once this is reached
Effects of temperature: increase in temperature and effect on equilibrium
equilibrium moves in the endothermic direction to reverse the change
Effects of temperature: decrease in temperature and effect on equilibrium
equilibrium moves in the exothermic direction to reverse the change
Equilibrium expression
is an expression that links the equilibrium constant, Kc, to the concentrations of reactants and products at equilibrium taking the stoichiometry of the equation into account
- Solids are ignored in equilibrium expressions
- The Kc of a reaction is specific and only changes if the temperature of the reaction changes
Equilibrium expression: equation
K = ([C]c * [D]d)/([B]b * [A]a)
K = equilibrium constant
A, B,…= products
C, D,…= reactants
[A] = equilibrium concentration of A in moles
a= number of moles of A p= number of molecules (or atoms) of R involved in the reaction σ= number of molecules (or atoms) of S involved in the reaction
Partial pressure of a gas
is the pressure that the gas would have if it was in the container all by itself
-The total pressure is the sum of the partial pressure
reactions involving mixtures of gases, the equilibrium constant Kp
is used as it is easier to measure the pressure than the concentration for gases
Equation to calculate the total pressure in a mixture of gases
P(total)= P(a) + P(b) + P(c)
Mole fraction=
no. moles of a particular gas / total no. of moles of all the gases in a mixture
To calculate the partial pressures of each gas the following relationship can be used:
Partial pressure = Mole fraction x total pressure
The sum of the mole fractions should add up to 1.00, while the sum of the partial pressures should add up to the total pressure.
Calculations involving Kc
- In the equilibrium expression each figure within a square bracket represents the concentration in mol dm-3
- The units of Kc therefore depend on the form of the equilibrium expression
- Some questions give the number of moles of each of the reactants and products at equilibrium together with the volume of the reaction mixture
- The concentrations of the reactants and products can then be calculated from the number of moles and total volume
concentration (mol dm^-3) =
no moles / volume (dm^-3)
- Some questions give the initial and equilibrium concentrations of the reactants but products
- An initial, change and equilibrium table should be used to determine the equilibrium concentration of the products using the molar ratio of reactants and products in the stoichiometric equation
Calculations involving Kp
- In the equilibrium expression the p represent the partial pressure of the reactants and products in Pa
- The units of Kp therefore depend on the form of the equilibrium expression
Some questions only give the number of moles of gases present and the total pressure
The number of moles of each gas should be used to first calculate the mole fractions
The mole fractions are then used to calculate the partial pressures
The values of the partial pressures are then substituted in the equilibrium expression
Changes that Affect the Equilibrium Constant: Changes in concentration
-If all other conditions stay the same, the equilibrium constant Kc is not affected by any changes in concentration of the reactants or product
-For example, the decomposition of hydrogen iodide:
2HI ⇌ H2 + I2
The equilibrium expression is:
kc = (H2)(I2)/(HI)^2 = 6.25 x 10^-3
-Adding more HI makes the ratio of [ products ] to [ reactants ] smaller
To restore equilibrium, [H2] and [I2] increases and [HI] decreases
Equilibrium is restored when the ratio is 6.25 x 10-3 again
Changes that Affect the Equilibrium Constant: Changes in pressure
- A change in pressure only changes the position of the equilibrium (see Le Chatelier’s principle)
- If all other conditions stay the same, the equilibrium constant Kc is not affected by any changes in pressure of the reactants and products
Changes that Affect the Equilibrium Constant: Changes in temperature
- Changes in temperature change the equilibrium constant Kc
- For an endothermic reaction such as:
2HI –>
Changes that Affect the Equilibrium Constant: Presence of a catalyst
- If all other conditions stay the same, the equilibrium constant Kc is not affected by the presence of a catalyst
- A catalyst speeds up both the forward and reverse reactions at the same rate so the ratio of [ products ] to [ reactants ] remains unchanged