Name: _______________________________________________

Class: ______________________

IGCSE Chemistry (Triple) Homework

Physical Chemistry – 3C

Reversible Reactions and Equilibria

Date: April 2021

Time: 30 minutes

Marks available: 30 marks

Marks achieved: ______

Percent achieved: ______

What should you do if no one laughs at your chemistry jokes?

Keep telling them until you get a reaction.

Questions
Q1.

When nitrogen and hydrogen react to form ammonia, the reaction can reach a dynamic equilibrium.

(a) Explain what is meant by a dynamic equilibrium.

(2)
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(b) In industry, the reaction between nitrogen and hydrogen is affected by the conditions used.

(i) The pressure used is 250 atmospheres.

Explain how the use of a higher pressure would affect the equilibrium yield of ammonia.
(2)
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(ii) The reaction between nitrogen and hydrogen to form ammonia is exothermic. The temperature
used is 450°C.

Explain how the use of a lower temperature would affect the equilibrium yield of ammonia.
(2)
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(iii) Even at 450°C, the reaction is very slow. State what is used in industry to overcome this problem.
(1)
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(Total for Question = 7 marks)

Q2.
Phosgene (COCl2) is used in industry to make polymers.

(a) Phosgene is formed when carbon monoxide reacts with chlorine.

(i) The reaction mixture is kept at temperatures between 50 and 150 °C. If a temperature above 200 °C
is used, only a small amount of phosgene is formed.

Suggest why only a small amount of phosgene is formed at temperatures above 200 °C.
(2)
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(ii) Predict how the yield of phosgene will change if the reaction is carried out at a higher pressure.

Give a reason for your answer.[assume the reaction reaches a position of equilibrium]
(2)
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(Total for question = 4 marks)

Q3.
Iodine reacts with chlorine to form iodine monochloride, ICl

(a) Write a chemical equation for this reaction.

(1)
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(b) Iodine monochloride reacts reversibly with chlorine to form iodine trichloride.

The reaction mixture is allowed to reach a state of dynamic equilibrium.

(i) One feature of a reaction that is in dynamic equilibrium is that both the forward reaction and the
backward reaction occur simultaneously.

Give two other features of a reaction that is in dynamic equilibrium.

(2)
1 ..........................................................................................................................................

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2 ..........................................................................................................................................

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(ii) When the equilibrium mixture is heated, it becomes darker brown in colour.

Explain whether the backward reaction is exothermic or endothermic.

(2)
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(Total for question = 5 marks)

Q3.
Ammonia (NH3) can be made by reacting nitrogen and hydrogen, in the presence of an iron catalyst,
according to the equation

N2(g) + 3H2(g) 2NH3(g) ΔH = −92 kJ/mol

The reaction is reversible and the reaction mixture can, if left for long enough, reach a position of dynamic
equilibrium.

The graph shows how the percentage of ammonia at equilibrium depends on the temperature and
pressure used.

(a) State two features of a reaction mixture that is in dynamic equilibrium.

(2)
1........................................................................................................................................................

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2........................................................................................................................................................

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 (b) (i) Use the graph to state the effect on the percentage of ammonia at equilibrium of the following
changes

• an increase in temperature at constant pressure

• an increase in pressure at constant temperature

Write your answers in the table.

(2)

(ii) Explain why these changes have the effects you have given in (b)(i).
(2)
Increase in temperature

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Increase in pressure

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(Total for Question = 6 marks)

Q4.
The hydrogen needed for the manufacture of ammonia is made by a process called steam reforming.
In this process, a mixture of methane and steam is passed over a nickel catalyst. The equation for the
reaction is

(a) In this part of the question, assume that the reaction reaches a position of equilibrium.

(i) Predict whether a high or low temperature would produce the highest yield of hydrogen.
Give a reason for your choice.
(1)
prediction

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reason

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(ii) Predict whether a high or low pressure would produce the highest yield of hydrogen.
Give a reason for your choice.
(1)
prediction

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reason

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(Total for question = 2 marks)

Q5.
The Haber process is used to convert nitrogen and hydrogen into ammonia. The hydrogen for this
process is obtained using reactions 1 and 2

Reaction 1 CH4(g) + H2O(g) CO(g) + 3H2(g) ΔH = +210 kJ mol−1

Reaction 2 CO(g) + H2O(g) CO2(g) + H2(g) ΔH = −42 kJ mol−1

(i) Predict what will happen to the equilibrium position in reaction 1 when the pressure is increased. Give
a reason for your prediction.
(2)
Prediction

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Reason

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(ii) Predict what will happen to the equilibrium position in reaction 2 when the temperature is increased.
Give a reason for your prediction.
(2)
Prediction

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Reason

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(c) Predict what will happen to the rate of reaction 1 when the pressure and temperature are increased.
(2)

Effect of increased pressure

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Effect of increased temperature

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(Total for Question = 6 marks)