The Equilibrium Condition

1. Explain why the reaction given below is not normally considered an equilibrium.

CH4(g) + 2O2(g) → CO2(g) + 2H2O(g)

2. Consider the following equilibrium reaction: H2(g) + I2(g) ↔ 2HI(g)

a. What does the double-sided arrow indicate?

b. What is happening at the molecular level during this reversible reaction?

c.

The plot shows the change in reactants and products

over time.

Which line represents the reactants, H2 and I2 _____ and which represents the products _____?

At what time has equilibrium been reached? _______

What can you say about the concentrations of reactants and products at equilibrium?

______________________________________________________________________________

d. If the reaction, H2(g) + I2(g) → 2HI(g), is exothermic, which would most likely have a higher
concentration, reactants or products? ______________. Explain _______________________

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Mathematically, we can represent an equilibrium with an expression. For the equilibrium

H2(g) + I2(g) ↔ 2HI(g), this expression is Keq = [HI]2

[H2][I2]

Where [HI] is the concentration of HI, [H2] and [I2] are concentrations of H2 and I2, and Keq is the
equilibrium constant for this reaction. K is constant regardless of initial concentrations of
reactants and products.

Consider the following equilibrium reactions and the corresponding K values:

Reaction Keq
1. CO2(g) + H2(g) ↔ CO(g) + H2O(g) 4.9 x 10−3
2. 2NO(g) + 2H2(g) ↔ N2(g) + 2H2O(g) 6.5 x 102
3. N2O4(g) ↔ 2NO2(g) 0.3160
4. N2(g) + 3H2(g) ↔ 2NH3(g) [at 25oC] 6.4 x 102
5. N2(g) + 3H2(g) ↔ 2NH3(g) [at 200oC] 4.4 x 10−1
6. N2(g) + 3H2(g) ↔ 2NH3(g) [at 300oC] 4.3 x 10−3
7. N2(g) + 3H2(g) ↔ 2NH3(g) [at 400oC] 1.6 x 10−4
8. N2(g) + 3H2(g) ↔ 2NH3(g) [at 500oC] 1.5 x 10−5

Examine the equation for the equilibrium constant, Keq (above) and answer the following:

1. Which reactions “favor” products (i.e., at equilibrium, the concentration of products will be
greater than the concentration of reactants)? ______________________________________

How did you determine this? ____________________________________________________

2. Reactions 4-8 represent the same process (the Haber process) carried out at different
temperatures. Temperature is the only variable that does affect the equilibrium constant, Keq.

Ammonia, NH3, can be used as a fertilizer. At which temperature should this reaction be carried
out to produce the highest yield? ________________

Do you think that the Haber process is an endothermic or an exothermic reaction? Why?

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3. Which reaction most strongly favors reactants? _______________

Can you think of a variable that could be manipulated to shift the equilibrium (if only
temporarily) to favor products? __________________________________________________