Chapter 15:  Equilibrium

 

 

Section 15-1: Equilibrium Constant, K_c and K_p, Expressions

Section 15-2: Equilibrium Calculations and RICE Charts

Section 15-3: Reaction Quotients, Q_c and Q_p

Section 15-4: Heterogeneous Equilibria

Section 15-5: Le Châtelier's Principle

Chapter 15 Practice Exercises and Review Quizzes

 

 

 

Section 15-1:  Equilibrium Constant, K_c and K_p, Expressions

 

As soon as a chemical reaction is initiated, the amount of each reactant on the left side of the equation will begin to decrease, and the rate of the forward reaction (toward the right) will begin to decrease.  At the same time, the amount of each product on the right side of the equation will begin to increase, and the rate of the reverse reaction (toward the left) will begin to increase.  Eventually, the rates of the forward and reverse reactions will become equal and, therefore, the amounts of the reactants and products will remain constant.  A reaction that reaches this point is said to be at equilibrium, which can be indicated by replacing the forward arrow (→) in the chemical equation with a double equilibrium arrow (⇌).

 

For the discussion that follows, the notation [X] in an equation indicates that the concentration of X in moles/liter or M should be inserted into the equation.  The notation P_X in an equation indicates that the pressure of X in atm should be inserted into the equation.

 

For a reaction aA + bB ⇌ cC + dD, where the lower case letters a through d represent coefficients, the amounts of the products relative to the reactants present at equilibrium will be indicated by the values K_c and K_p, known as equilibrium constants, according to the following expressions:

 

 

Note that the K_p expression will not apply if the reaction does not contain gases.

 

Sample Exercise 15A:

 

Write the K_c and K_p (only if applicable) expressions for each reaction:

 

(a) N₂ (g) + 3 F₂ (g) ⇌ 2 NF₃ (g)

(b) Sn²⁺ (aq) + 2 Fe³⁺ (aq) ⇌ Sn⁴⁺ (aq) + 2 Fe²⁺ (aq)

 

Solution:

 

 

Once we have written a K_c expression, we can substitute the equilibrium molarities for each reactant and product to calculate the numerical value of K_c.  Similarly, once we have written a K_p expression, we can substitute the equilibrium pressures in atm for each reactant and product to calculate the numerical value of K_p:

 

Sample Exercise 15B:

 

For reaction (a) above, calculate the value of K_p given the following equilibrium pressures:

 

nitrogen gas = 0.125 atm

fluorine gas = 0.85 atm

nitrogen trifluoride gas = 0.40 atm

 

Solution:

 

Equilibrium constant values are typically expressed without units, so we substitute the pressure in atm of each reactant and product, but without including units, into the K_p expression:

 

 

If we know the value of K_p and all but one pressure in the expression, we can calculate the unknown pressure.  Similarly, if we know the value of K_c  and all but one molarity in the expression, we can calculate the unknown molarity:

 

Sample Exercise 15C:

 

For reaction (b) above, K_c = 37.  Calculate the equilibrium molarity of iron(III) ions given the following equilibrium molarities:

 

tin(II) = 0.12 M

tin(IV) = 0.28 M

iron(II) = 0.36 M

 

Solution:

 

 

Note that we must always include a unit when solving for an equilibrium molarity or pressure.

 

 

If a reaction is written in the reverse direction, the equilibrium constant for the new reaction will be the reciprocal of the original equilibrium constant:

 

A ⇌ B     equilibrium constant = K

B ⇌ A     equilibrium constant = 1/K

 

If the coefficients of a reaction are multiplied by an integer or fraction x, the equilibrium constant for the new reaction will have a value equal to the original equilibrium constant raised to the x power:

 

A ⇌ B     equilibrium constant = K

xA ⇌ xB     equilibrium constant = (K)^x

 

Sample Exercise 15D:

 

For the reaction N₂ (g) + 3 F₂ (g) ⇌ 2 NF₃ (g), the value of K_p = 2.1.  Calculate the value of K_p for the following reaction:

 

NF₃ (g) ⇌ 1/2 N₂ (g) + 3/2 F₂ (g)

 

Solution:

 

To obtain the new reaction, the original reaction was reversed and also the coefficients were multiplied by 1/2.  Therefore, we can either take the reciprocal of the original K_p value and then raise the result to the 1/2 power, or we can raise the original K_p value to the 1/2 power and then take the reciprocal of the result.  The same answer will be achieved using either method:

 

 

 

If two or more reactions are added, the equilibrium constant for the new reaction will the be product of the equilibrium constants for each reaction that was added:

 

A ⇌ B     equilibrium constant = K₁

C ⇌ D     equilibrium constant = K₂

A + C ⇌ B + D     equilibrium constant = (K₁)(K₂)

 

A chemical reaction with a more negative ΔG° will have larger values of K_c and K_p and, therefore, larger amount of products relative to reactants at equilibrium.  A chemical reaction with a more positive ΔG° will have smaller values of K_c and K_p and, therefore, smaller amount of products relative to reactants at equilibrium.  Although K_c and K_p for a given reaction are known as equilibrium constants, note that their values will change when the temperature is changed.

 

 

 

 

 

Section 15-2:  Equilibrium Calculations and RICE Charts

 

In the numerical examples above, the given molarities could be substituted into the K_c expression and the given pressures could be substituted into the K_p expression because they represented the amounts of reactants and products at equilibrium.  If instead we are given initial molarities or pressures before the reaction has begun, we must use stoichiometry to determine how the molarity or pressure of each reactant and product changes as the reaction proceeds until equilibrium is reached.  Only after we have determined the final molarity or pressure of each reactant and product at equilibrium can we substitute those values into the K_c or K_p expression.

 

A Reaction-Initial-Change-Equilibrium or RICE chart is a convenient way to organize equilibrium stoichiometry calculations.  The four lines of a RICE chart are as follows:

 

R = Write the reaction.

 

I = Write the initial molarities (for calculations involving K_c) or pressures in atm (for calculations involving K_p) for each reactant and product, but units may be omitted on the RICE chart.

 

C = Write the change in the molarity or pressure of each reactant and product as the reaction proceeds.  We will begin completing this line by representing the change in the molarity or pressure of one reactant or product as +x if the change is known to be an increase or –x if the change is known to be decrease.  We will then use the coefficients of the reaction and stoichiometric ratios to deduce the change in all other reactants and products in terms of x.

 

E = Write the molarity or pressure of each reactant and product at equilibrium in terms of x.  Each value on this line will simply be the sum of the values on the Initial and Change lines (I + C = E).

 

After completing a RICE chart, if the molarity or pressure of one reactant or product at equilibrium has been given, we can determine the numerical value of x.  Once x is known, we can deduce the molarities or pressures of all other reactants and products at equilibrium, after which we can substitute these values into the K_c or K_p expression to find the numerical values of K_c or K_p:                 

 

Sample Exercise 15E:

 

(a) Write the K_c expression for the reaction 2 H₂S (g) + CH₄ (g) ⇌ CS₂ (g) + 4 H₂ (g).

(b) H₂S gas with an initial concentration of 0.37 M and methane gas with an initial concentration of 0.42 M are placed in an empty container and a reaction is initiated.  When equilibrium is reached, the concentration of hydrogen gas is found to be 0.52 M.  Calculate the concentrations of each gas at equilibrium and also the value of K_c for the reaction.

 

Solution:

 

(a)

 

(b) We begin by creating a RICE chart showing the initial molarities of each reactant and product.  Note that the initial molarities of only H₂S and CH₄ were specified, so we can assume that CS₂ and H₂ each have an initial molarity equal to zero.  Since the initial molarities of CS₂ and H₂ are zero and, therefore, must increase as the reaction proceeds, we make the signs of the changes positive for CS₂ and H₂.  If the signs of the changes on the right side are positive, then the signs of the changes on the left side must be negative to represent a decrease in the molarities of H₂S and CH₄ as the reaction proceeds:

 

 

If we define the change in molarity of CS₂ as +x, then according to the 4:1 stoichiometric ratio from the coefficients of the reaction, the change in molarity of H₂ will be +4x.  Using the same method, the change in molarity of H₂S will be -2x and the change in molarity of CH₄ will be –x.  After completing the C line, we add the I and C lines to obtain the values in the E line in terms of x:

 

 

From the information given in the problem, we know that the equilibrium molarity of H₂ is 0.52 M, which allows us to determine the numerical value of x and equilibrium molarities of the other gases as follows:

 

[H₂] = 0.52 M = 4x

x = 0.13 M = [CS₂]

[H₂S] = 0.37-2x  =  0.37-2(0.13) = 0.11 M

[CH₄] = 0.42-x = 0.42-0.13 = 0.29 M

 

Finally, we substitute the equilibrium molarities of each gas into the K_c expression to obtain the value of K_c:

 

 

 

If we are given the value of K_c or K_p in a RICE chart problem rather than any of the equilibrium molarities or pressures, we can solve the K_c or K_p expression for x:

 

Sample Exercise 15F:

 

(a) Write the K_p expression for the reaction CO (g) + 2 H₂ (g) ⇌ CH₃OH (g).

(b) Carbon monoxide gas with an initial pressure of 38 atm and hydrogen gas with an initial pressure of 56 atm are placed in an empty container and a reaction is initiated.  If K_p = 9.5 x 10^-3 for this reaction, calculate the equilibrium pressure of each gas.

(c) Calculate the total pressure at equilibrium.

 

Solution:

 

(a)

 

(b) First, we complete the RICE chart in terms of x:

 

 

We then substitute the equilibrium pressures in terms of x into the K_p expression and solve for x, after which we can determine the equilibrium pressures of each gas:

 

 

The equation above can be solved for x using a graphing calculator, keeping in mind that the value of x must be always be a real number greater than zero and also that the value of x cannot be so large as to result in a negative equilibrium molarity or pressure for any reactant or product.  For the equation being solved above, since x > 0 and 56-2x > 0, we know that the correct root must have 0 < x < 28.

 

(c) To find the total pressure at equilibrium, we simply add together the equilibrium pressures of all the gases:

 

P_total = 16 atm + 12 atm + 22 atm = 50. atm

 

 

If one or more of the reactants on the left side of an equation have an initial molarity or pressure equal to zero, then the reaction will proceed in the reverse direction and, thus, the RICE chart changes will be positive for each of the reactants on the left while being negative for each of the products on the right:

 

Sample Exercise 15G:

 

(a) Write the K_c expression for the reaction Sn⁴⁺ (aq) + 2 Cr²⁺ (aq) ⇌ Sn²⁺ (aq) + 2 Cr³⁺ (aq).

(b) A reaction mixture is prepared with the following initial concentrations:

 

chromium(II) = 0.46 M

tin(II) = 0.65 M

chromium(III) = 0.72 M

 

If K_c = 0.40 for this reaction, calculate the equilibrium molarity of each ion.

 

Solution:

 

(a)

 

(b)

 

 

 

(x > 0 and 0.72-2x > 0, so 0 < x < 0.36)

 

 

Section 15-3:  Reaction Quotients, Q_c and Q_p

 

For a reaction aA + bB ⇌ cC + dD, if none of the reactants or products have an initial molarity or pressure equal to zero and if we are not given the molarity or pressure of any reactant or product at equilibrium, we cannot determine by simple inspection whether the reaction proceeds in the forward or reverse direction to reach equilibrium.  In these cases, we must first calculate a reaction quotient Q_c or Q_p by entering the initial (i) molarities or pressures of each reactant and product into one of the following expressions:

 

 

After Q_c or Q_p has been calculated, we can determine the direction that the reaction must proceed to reach equilibrium as follows:

 

If Q_c < K_c or Q_p < K_p, the reaction must proceed in the forward direction to reach equilibrium.  Therefore, the RICE chart changes for the products on the right will be positive while the changes for the reactants on the left will be negative.

 

If Q_c > K_c or Q_p > K_p, the reaction must proceed in the reverse direction to reach equilibrium.  Therefore, the RICE chart changes for the reactants on the left side will be positive while the changes for the products on the right side will be negative.

 

Note that if Q_c = K_c or Q_p = K_p, then the reaction is already at equilibrium and, therefore, the initial molarities or pressures given are equal to the equilibrium molarities or pressures.

 

Sample Exercise 15H:

 

(a) For the reaction 2 SO₂ (g) + O₂ (g) ⇌ 2 SO₃ (g), K_p = 0.85.  In which direction must this reaction proceed to reach equilibrium starting with the following initial pressures?:

 

sulfur dioxide gas = 0.66 atm

oxygen gas = 0.51 atm

sulfur trioxide gas = 0.98 atm

 

(b) Calculate the equilibrium pressure of each gas.

(c) Calculate the total pressure at equilibrium.

 

Solution:

 

(a) We first calculate Q_p and then compare to K_p:

 

 

Since Q_p > K_p, the reaction will proceed in the reverse direction to reach equilibrium.

 

(b)

 

 

 

(x > 0 and 0.98-2x > 0, so 0 < x < 0.49)

 

(c) P_total = 0.94 atm + 0.65 atm + 0.70 atm = 2.29 atm

 

 

Section 15-4:  Heterogeneous Equilibria

 

Reactions that involve only a single state of matter are said to be homogeneous.  All of the reactions above that involve only gaseous or only aqueous reactants and products are homogeneous.  Reactions that involve more than one state of matter are said to be heterogeneous.  When K_c, K_p, Q_c, and Q_p expressions for heterogeneous reactions are written, solids and liquids are omitted from the expressions:

 

Sample Exercise 15I:

 

(a) Write the K_c and K_p expressions for the reaction 4 KO₂ (s) + 2 CO₂ (g) ⇌ 2 K₂CO₃ (s) + 3 O₂ (g).

(b) Calculate K_p for this reaction if the equilibrium pressure of carbon dioxide gas is 13 atm and the equilibrium pressure of oxygen gas is 17 atm.

 

Solution:

 

(a)

(b)

 

 

 

On a RICE chart for a heterogeneous reaction, the columns under solids and liquids will be left blank.  However, we can still calculate changes in the amounts of solids and liquids as the reaction proceeds using standard stoichiometry with mole ratios:

 

Sample Exercise 15J:

 

(a) Write the K_p expression for the decomposition of solid ammonium carbonate to form ammonia gas, carbon dioxide gas, and liquid water: 

(NH₄)₂CO₃ (s) ⇌ 2 NH₃ (g) + CO₂ (g) + H₂O (l)

(b) After a 9.85 gram sample of solid ammonium carbonate was placed in a 75.0 mL container and heated to 335°C, the equilibrium pressure of ammonia gas was found to be 33.2 atm.  Calculate the equilibrium pressure of carbon dioxide gas, K_p for this reaction, and the total pressure at equilibrium.

(c) Calculate the number of water molecules and the mass of solid ammonium carbonate present at equilibrium. 

 

Solution:

 

(a)

 

(b)

 

 

 

(c) We first use the Ideal Gas Law to convert the equilibrium pressure of ammonia to find the moles of ammonia formed in the reaction.  Then we can use a mole ratio from the balanced equation to find the moles of water formed in the reaction, after which we use Avogadro's number to convert to water molecules present at equilibrium.  Next, we again use a mole ratio to find the moles of ammonium carbonate that reacted to make the products, after which we use the molar mass to convert to grams.  Finally, we subtract the mass of ammonium carbonate reacted from the initial mass to find the final mass of ammonium carbonate present at equilibrium:

 

 

Note that we could have arrived at the same answers by first finding the moles of carbon dioxide gas formed in the reaction rather than first finding the moles of ammonia gas formed in the reaction.

   

 

 

 

Section 15-5:  Le Châtelier's Principle

 

A variety of factors may cause a reaction at equilibrium to temporarily fall out of equilibrium.  Le Châtelier's Principle essentially states that a reaction which has fallen out of equilibrium will respond by proceeding at unequal forward and reverse rates until equilibrium has been reestablished.  A reaction that proceeds faster in the forward direction is said to shift to the right.  When a reaction shifts to the right, the amount of products on the right side of the equation will increase and the amount of reactants on the left side of the equation will decrease.  A reaction that proceeds faster in the reverse direction is said to shift to the left.  When a reaction shifts to the left, the amounts of reactants on the left side of the equation will increase and the amount of products on the right side of the equation will decrease.  According to Le Châtelier's Principle, the following guidelines predict what will occur when a variety of changes are made to a reaction at equilibrium:

 

1a. (g) or (aq) reactant is added = shifts right

1b. (g) or (aq) product is added = shifts left

 

2a. (g) or (aq) reactant is removed = shifts left

2b. (g) or (aq) product is removed = shifts right

 

3a. (s) or (l) reactant or product is added = no shift

3b. (s) or (l) reactant or product is removed = no shift

 

4a. Volume of reaction container is increased = shifts in direction having more moles of (g) [sum of coefficients for (g) only is greater]

4b. Volume of reaction container is decreased = shifts in direction having fewer moles of (g) [sum of coefficients for (g) only is less]

 

5a. Water is added to increase volume of solution = shifts in direction having more moles of (aq) [sum of coefficients for (aq) only is greater]

5b. Water is evaporated to decrease volume of solution = shifts in direction having fewer moles of (aq) [sum of coefficients for (aq) only is less]

 

6. Catalyst is added = both forward and reverse rates increase but remain equal = no shift

 

7. Inert (unreactive) gas (for example:  noble gases helium, neon, argon) added with no change in volume of reaction container = no shift

 

8a. Temperature is increased = shifts in endothermic direction (ΔH > 0)

8b. Temperature is decreased = shifts in exothermic direction (ΔH < 0)

 

Note that the ΔH value listed after a reaction refers to the forward direction.  Therefore, for the reaction A ⇌ B   ΔH < 0, the reaction is exothermic in the forward direction and endothermic in the reverse direction. 

 

Of the changes listed above, only a change in temperature will change the value of K_c and K_p.  If the reaction shifts right due to a temperature change, then K_c and K_p will increase.  If the reaction shifts left due to a temperature change, K_c and K_p will decrease.

 

Sample Exercise 15K:

 

Consider the reaction:

2 H₂O (g) + 3 S (s) ⇌ 2 H₂S (g) + SO₂ (g)   ΔH > 0

 

(a) State whether the amount of H₂S gas present at equilibrium will increase, decrease, or remain unchanged when each of the following occurs:

 

i. Sulfur dioxide gas is added.

ii. Water vapor is removed.

iii. Solid sulfur is removed.

iv. The container volume is increased.

v. A catalyst is added.

vi. Argon gas is added at constant volume.

vii. The temperature is decreased.

 

(b) Of the changes above, which will change the value of K_c and K_p, and will K_c and K_p increase or decrease?

 

Solution:

 

(a)

i. Add (g) product  = shifts left = amount of H₂S decreases (guideline 1b).

ii. Remove (g) reactant = shifts left = amount of H₂S decreases (guideline 2a).

iii. Remove (s) reactant = no shift = amount of H₂S unchanged (guideline 3b).

iv. Volume of container increases = shifts to side with more (g) moles.  Although total moles is larger on left (5 ⇌ 3), there are more (g) moles on the right (2 ⇌ 3), so shifts right = amount of H₂S increases (guideline 4a). 

v. Catalyst is added = no shift = amount of H₂S unchanged (guideline 6).

vi. Inert gas added with no volume change = no shift = amount of H₂S unchanged (guideline 7).

vii. Temperature decreases = shifts in exothermic direction = shifts left = amount of H₂S decreases (guideline 8b).

 

(b) Only a temperature change will change the value of K_c and K_p.  Reaction shifts left when temperature is decreased, so K_c and K_p decrease.

 

 

 

 

Chapter 15 Practice Exercises and Review Quizzes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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