Unit 3: Chemical Equilibrium Flashcards
Can chemical reactions be undone?
Under the right conditions, they can be undone.
What is the “right condition” for most reactions to reverse?
Most reactions are exothermic, meaning that they release energy (energy is removed from the system, negative delta H). So, energy or a catalyst are needed to reverse a reaction (refer to graph in notes)
What is notable about equilibrium reaction equations?
They have a double arrow between the products and reactants.
What is equilibrium?
Chemical equilibrium is when the forward and reverse reactions are proceeding at the same rate.
It occurs in a closed system (no matter can enter or leave).
No observable changes (the microscopic level is still active).
Two types of equilibrium (phase and dynamic).
What is phase equilibrium?
A balance between two phases of matter (like solid and liquid). Refer to the sealed soda container example.
What is dynamic equilibrium?
A balance between forward and reverse chemical reactions. The products become the reactants as the reactants become the products.
What is Le Chatelier’s Principle?
If stress is applied to a system at equilibrium, a temporary non-equilibrium state will occur. The system will then shift in the direction opposite to the change (returning to equilibrium). There are three stresses that may affect an equilibrium rate: change in concentration, change in volume, and change in temperature.
How does a change in concentration affect equilibrium?
The system will react to replace a removed substance or use up an added substance.
How does a change in volume or pressure affect equilibrium?
This only affects gasses. Gasses take up the volume that they are in. If volume is increased (pressure decreased), the equilibrium favours the direction that produces more moles of gas. If the volume is decreased (pressure increased) the equilibrium favours the direction that produces fewer moles of gas.
How does a change in temperature affect equilibrium?
Every equilibrium has both an exothermic and an endothermic direction. If you add heat, the reaction favours the endothermic reaction (the endothermic reaction removes heat). If you remove heat, the reaction favours the exothermic reaction (releases more heat).
What does keq represent?
The equilibrium constant.
What represents the equilibrium constant?
Keq.
What is keq/the equilibrium constant?
A numerical value (no units) that describes the system once it has reached equilibrium. Keq > 1, products favoured. Keq < 1, reactants favoured.
What is the keq expresssion?
keq = ([C]^c * [D]^d) / ([A]^a * [B]^b) where aA + bB <-> cC + dD
Capitals are substances, lowercases are coefficients/amount. Do not include solids or pure liquids, only include gasses (gasses and non-pure liquids have concentration).
The product of the concentration of the products to the power of their amounts divided by the product of the concentration of the reactants to the power of their amounts.
What is the product and reactant in an equilibrium expression?
The reactants are always on the left. The reactants are always on the right.
What represents the reaction quotient?
Q
What does Q represent?
The reaction quotient.
What is the reaction quotient?
Like keq, Q is a ratio of the products to reactants. Calculated using instantaneous concentrations. If Q = keq, the reaction is at equilibrium. If not, then you can determine which way the reaction should shift. If Q<Keq, system has more reactants than at equilibrium, so it will move in the forward direction. If Q>Keq, there are more products than at equilibrium, so it will move in the reverse direction.
What does I.C.E. stand for?
I: Initial or instantaneous concentrations.
C: Change in concentration.
E: Equilibrium concentration.