Chemical Equilibria Flashcards
What is a reversible reaction?
One that can proceed in both forward and backward directions
What is dynamic equilibrium?
Reversible process at equilibrium in which the rate of forward reaction is equal to the rate of backward reaction, where there is no net change in concentration of reactants and products
What is concentration-time graph during dynamic equilibrium?
- products is upward curve with decreasing gradient
- reactants is downward curve with decreasing gradient
(look like headless fish)
What is rate-time graph during dynamic equilibrium?
- rate of forward reaction is downward curve
- rate of backward reaction is upward curve
- both curve meets at the middle to form a straight line (rate of forward = rate of backward)
What is a requirement for equilibrium to be achieved and why?
- closed system
- many irreversible reactions take place in an open system such that product can escape, making backward reaction impossible
What happens at equilibrium?
- amount of each substance and hence its concentration remains constant
- no change in properties as long as conditions remain unchanged (temperature, pressure)
What is Kc?
Equilibrium constant
What is Kc of aA + bB ⇌ cC + dD?
Kc = [C]ᶜ[D]ᵈ/[A]ᵃ[B]ᵇ
What is excluded from Kc?
- solids
- water when water is solvent (aq)
What is Kp?
Equilibrium constant in terms of partial pressure (which is proportional to concentration) for gas
What is the Kp of aA(g) + bB (g) ⇌ cC (g) + dD (g)?
Kp = (Pc)ᶜ(PD)ᵈ/(PA)ᵃ(PB)ᵇ
What is excluded from Kp?
solids and liquids as they add negligible pressure to the system
What is Dalton’s law of partial pressure?
Total pressure exerted by a mixture of gas which do not react is equal to the sum of partial pressures of the constituent gases
Pₜ = Pₐ + Pb + Pc
What is partial pressure of a gas?
Partial pressure of a gas in a mixture is equal to the pressure that the gas would exert if it were alone and occupying the same volume under same conditions
What is formula for partial pressure?
- Pa = nₐ/nₜ × pₜ
- Pa = nₐRT/V
What affects K?
Temperature
Is K affected by catalyst and why?
- unaffected by catalyst
- catalysts increase both the forward and backward reaction and allows equilibrium to be achieved more rapidly but does not affect yield of reaction
What is the power in Kc or Kp?
coefficient in stoichiometric equation (unlike in reaction kinetics)
What does Kc or Kp > 1 indicate?
- high proportion of products compared to reactants
- position of equilibrium lies far right
What does Kc or Kp < 1 indicate?
- a high proportion of reactants compared to products
- position of equilibrium lies far left
What is Qc and what is it used for?
- reaction quotient
- used to predict direction of a reaction
What is Qc of aA + bB ⇌ cC + dD?
- Qc = [C]ᶜ[D]ᵈ/[A]ᵃ[B]ᵇ
- where [A], [B], [C], [D] are concentration values at any given time
What happens to Qc over time?
Qc changes with time as reaction proceeds until a state of dynamic equilbirum is attained
What happens when Qc < Kc?
- more products need to be formed
- forward reaction is favoured
- POE shifts to right
- Qc will increase until equilibrium is achieved
What happens when Qc = Kc?
- System is at dynamic equilibrium
- no shift of POE
What happens when Qc > Kc?
- more reactants needs to be formed
- backward reaction will be favoured
- POE shifts left
- Qc will decrease until equilibrium is achieved
What is Le Chatelier’s Principle?
If a system at dynamic equilibrium is subjected to a change which disturbs the equilibrium, the system responds in a way to counteract the effect of the change
For A ⇌ B, what happens if more A is added?
- concentration/partial pressure of A increses
- position of equilibrium shifts to the right to consume some of A added
For A ⇌ B, what happens if B is removed?
- concentration/partial pressure of B decreases
- position of equilibrium shifts to the right to replenish some of the B removed
What happens if water is added in equilibrium?
- concentration of all species decrease by the same extent
- more species on one side (eg. left) is diluted
- rate of backward reaction is higher than rate of forward reaction
- POE shifts left