Calculating
equilibrium
concentrations
Keq
is a ratio of product concentrations divided by reactant
concentrations.
knowing the Keq means knowing the molar concentration of
reactants and products at equilibrium.
Can be used to calculate unknown equilibrium
concentrations, and vice versa.
For example:
N2O4 (g) ⇌ 2NO2 (g)
At 25 degrees C, the equilibrium concentrations of NO 2 and
N2O4 are 0.0204 M and 0.0898 M, respectively. What is the
Keq
Of the reaction at the said temperature?
G- concentration of NO2 and N2O4 at equilibrium
NO2 = 0.0204 M
N2O4 = 0.0898 M
U- Equilibrium constant or Keq
F- Keq =
S- Keq =
=0.0204 M
0.0898 M
A- Keq =
The equilibrium constant of N2O4 (g) 2NO2 (g) at 25 degrees C is
⇌
Le chatelier’s principle
A system at equilibrium adjusts to attain a new
equilibrium when disturbed by a change in the
concentration of the reacting species,
P-ressure
T-emperature
Vo-lume
C-atalysts
adjustment in the equilibrium
A. Changes in Concentration
N2(g) + 3H2(g) ⇌ 2NH3 (g)
• Q. If stress is applied to the reaction system by adding
nitrogen gas, the system will adjust to attain a new
equilibrium. How?
In the industrial process, an example that demonstrates the Le
Chatelier’s principle.
CaCO3(s) + heat ⇌ CaO(s) +CO2(g)
• To promote the formation of calcium oxide, carbon dioxide is
constantly removed from the limekiln. Decreasing the
concentration of carbon dioxide causes the reaction to shift
from left to right, converting calcium carbonate to calcium
oxide.
B. Changes in Temperature
Endothermic reaction can be written as follows:
A + B + heat ⇌ AB or A + B ⇌ AB ∆H= +
Exothermic reaction can be written as follows:
AB ⇌ A+B+ heat or AB ⇌ A+B ∆H= -
Where: ∆H= heat of reaction
B. Changes in Temperature
Endothermic reaction can be written as follows:
A + B + heat ⇌ AB or A + B ⇌ AB ∆H= +
• Stress is applied by increasing the temperature, the system
will shift to the right to decrease the amount of heat present.
At equilibrium, the concentration of the product will be
higher and the concentration of the reactant will be lower.
B. Changes in Temperature
Exothermic reaction can be written as follows:
AB ⇌ A+B+ heat or AB ⇌ A+B ∆H= -
• Stress is applied by increasing the temperature, the system
will shift to the left to use up the added heat. Hence, at
equilibrium, the concentration of the product will be lower
and concentration of the reactant will be higher.
C. Changes in Pressure and Volume
For reversible reactions containing only gases, the equilibrium
can be disturbed by altering the pressure and the volume.
• An increase in pressure( decrease in volume) will drive the
reaction in the direction which has the least number of
gaseous moles. On the other hand, a decrease in pressure
(increase in volume) will drive the reaction in the reaction in
the direction which has the greatest number of gaseous
moles.
C. Changes in Pressure and Volume
N2(g) + 3H2(g) ⇌ 2NH3 (g)
4 moles = 2 moles
• Increasing the pressure (decreasing the volume) will shift the
reaction to the right, the direction which has the least
number of moles of gas. The shifting of the reaction to the
right makes the concentration of NH3 higher and N2 and H2
lower.
2NOBr (g) ⇌ 2NO (g) +Br (g)
D. Changes in Catalysts
-Catalysts lower the activation energy of both forward and
reverse reactions.
- Catalysts neither shift the reaction to the left nor to the right.
- Inhibitors only increase the activation energy but do not alter
the direction of the reaction.
