Experiment 4: Chemical Equilibrium

INTRODUCTION
What is Chemical Equilibrium?
The Concept of Equilibrium
• As a system approaches equilibrium,
both the forward and reverse
reactions are occurring.

• At equilibrium, the forward and

reverse reactions are proceeding at
the same rate.

• Once equilibrium is achieved, the

amount of each reactant and
product remains constant.
Le Châtelier's Principle
• When a stress is placed on a system in
dynamic equilibrium, the system shifts in
order to adjust for this change and re-
establish equilibrium.

• Change in:
- Concentration - Pressure

- Temperature

- Volume
Le Châtelier's Principle
 Equilibrium Constant (K)
 
 Equilibrium Constant (K)
 
 Equilibrium Constant (K)
Relative Concentrations
Value of K Interpretation
at Equilibrium
Production of product is favored.
[Reactants] < [Products] K >> 1
Equilibrium lies to the right
Production of the reactant is
[Reactants] > [Products] K << 1
favored. Equilibrium lies to the left.

* If K = 1, the reaction will reach equilibrium as an intermediate mixture, meaning

the amounts of products and reactants will be about the same.
Writing Equilibrium Constant Expressions
I. At Homogenous Equilibria

- all reacting species are in the same phase

 
Writing Equilibrium Constant Expressions
II. At Heterogenous Equilibria
- results from a reversible reaction involving reactants and products that are in different
phases.

- The concentrations of pure solids and pure liquids do not appear in the equilibrium constant
expression.

AgCl (s) ⇄ Ag+ (aq) + Cl- (aq) (NH4)2Se (s) ⇄ 2NH3 (g) + H2Se (g)

Kc = [Ag+] [Cl-] Kc = [NH3]2 [H2Se]

Kp = P2NH3PH2Se
Writing Equilibrium Constant Expressions
III. At Multiple Equilibria
- A situation wherein the product molecules in one equilibrium system are
involved in a second equilibrium process.

H2CO3 (aq) ⇄ H+ (aq) + HCO3- (aq)

HCO3- (aq) ⇄ H+ (aq) + CO32- (aq)

Over-all reaction:
H2CO3 (aq) ⇄ 2H+ (aq) + CO32- (aq)

Over-all Kc:  
MATERIALS AND REAGENTS
- Ice tubes
- Test tubes
- Distilled water

- Beaker - 0.1 M Ferric chloride

- Graduated Cylinder
- 0.1 M Potassium thiocyanate
- Serological pipette
- Rubber aspirator - Saturated NaCl

- Pasteur pipette - 0.3 M Cobalt chloride

- Hot plate - Concentrated HCl

 PROCEDURE
I. Effect of Concentration on Equilibrium

Solution A: 50mL dH2O + 1 mL

0.1 M FeCl3 + 1 mL 0.1 M KSCN
2 mL of 2 mL of 2 mL of 2 mL of
Solution A Solution A Solution A Solution A
+ + +
Control Tube 10 drops 0.1 M 10 drops 0.1 M 10 drops
FeCl3 KSCN saturated NaCl

Reaction Tube 1 Reaction Tube 2

Reaction Tube 3

* Record the color of the solution in the control and reaction tubes.
 PROCEDURE
II. Effect of Temperature on Equilibrium (Modified)
A. Cobalt chloride reaction

Solution B: 1 mL 0.3 M Cobalt chloride + Conc. HCl (dropwise until color changes to blue)

5 drops of
Solution B Place the tube in an
ice bath until the
* Record the color of the solution
initial color of changes
the solution
*Record the color
change
Reaction Tube 4
 PROCEDURE
II. Effect of
A. Cobalt chloride reaction
Temperature on Equilibrium
(Modified)
After taking note of the color change
during the ice bath. Transfer Reaction
Tube 4 in a warm water bath. Heat
until a color change is seen.

*Record the color change.

 PROCEDURE
II. Effect of
B. Thiocyanate reaction
Temperature on Equilibrium
(Modified)
Place the tube in a
5 drops of water bath and heat
Solution A until the color of the
solution changes
* Record the
initial color of *Record the color
the solution change
Reaction Tube 5
 PROCEDURE
II. Effect of
B. Thiocyanate reaction
Temperature on Equilibrium
(Modified)
After taking note of the color change
during the warm water bath. Transfer
Reaction Tube 5 in an ice bath.

*Record the color change.

 EXPECTED RESULTS
I. Iron(III) – Thiocyanate Ion Complex

-The addition of either reactant, Fe3+ or SCN- ,

causes the equilibrium to shift to the right, or
product side, causing a deepening of the colour.

-Adding more Cl- ions causes Fe3+ to be removed

from the solution due to the formation of FeCl4-. The
decrease in the concentration of Fe3+ causes the
equilibrium to shift to the left, or reactant side,
which results in a lightening of the colour of the
solution.
 EXPECTED RESULTS
IIA. Cobalt (II) chloride Complex ∆H is positive

- removal of heat favors the exothermic

direction. When placed in the cold water bath
the solution turned pink; thus the reverse
direction is the exothermic direction.

- adding heat to an equilibrium system favors the

endothermic reaction. Since the equilibrium
favored the blue side in the hot water bath we
can conclude that the forward reaction is the
endothermic direction.
 EXPECTED RESULTS
IIB. Iron(III) – Thiocyanate Ion Complex∆H is negative

- removal of heat favors the exothermic

direction. When placed in the cold water bath
the equilibrium favored the red side; thus the
forward direction is the exothermic direction.

- adding heat to an equilibrium system favors the

endothermic reaction. Since the equilibrium
favored the yellow side in the hot water bath
we can conclude that the reverse reaction is the
endothermic direction.
In your laboratory notebook…
Do not forget the following:

- Write the balanced equation for

the reactions involved in the
experiment
- Write the equilibrium constant
expressions
- Discuss/ relate your observations
with Le Châtelier's Principle