Kate Clarisse Ganal

BSChE III-B
Laboratory Report No.1

Chemical Equilibrium

I. Introduction

In a dynamic or kinetic sense, chemical equilibrium is a condition in which a chemical

reaction is occurring at equal rates in its forward and reverse directions so that the concentrations
of the reactant and product substances do not change with time. In a thermodynamic sense, it is
the condition in which there is no tendency for the composition of the system to change. From the
viewpoint of statistical mechanics, the equilibrium state places the system in a condition of
maximum freedom (or minimum restraint) compatible with the energy, volume, and composition
of the system. The statistical approach has been merged with thermodynamics into a field called
statistical thermodynamics; this merger has been of immense value for its intellectual stimulus, as
well as for its practical contributions to the study of equilibria.

In dealing with equilibrium reactions are given below:

• Products are the chemical species to the right of the equilibrium arrow, as the reaction
equation is written.
• Reagents are the chemical species to the left of the equilibrium arrow, as the reaction
equation is written.
• The forward reaction is the process as written from left to right in the reaction equation.
• The reverse reaction is the process as written from right to left in the reaction equation.

The main objective of this experiment is to observe systems at equilibrium and to determine
what happens when stresses are applied to such systems.

II. Methodology

First, get two flasks and label their A and B. Fill the flask with an equal amount of
dinitrogen tetroxide so that pressure will the same. Now, place flask A in ice that has a temperature
of 273K and flask B in boiling water with 373K of temperature. Observe that flask A is almost
colorless but in flask B which is kept in boiling water, the gas is dark brown. Put the two flasks in
a water bath where the temperature is about 298K. Observe the final result.

III. Results and Discussion

Flask A is almost colorless in ice while flask B changes to nitrogen dioxide which is dark
brown. After that, the two-flask is put in a water bath where the temperature is about 298K. After
some time, the color of the gasses in both the flask is the same is light brown.
 Some of the dinitrogen tetroxide gas in flask A change to nitrogen dioxide which is dark
brown.

𝑁2 𝑂4 ⇌ 𝑁𝑂2

And in flask B some amount of nitrogen dioxide which is a dark brown change to colorless gas.

𝑁𝑂2 ⇌ 𝑁2 𝑂4

Both of the flasks contain 𝑁𝑂2 and 𝑁2 𝑂4. Hence, they have the same colors.

IV. Conclusion

Both flasks have the same composition of the mixture containing 𝑁2 𝑂4 and 𝑁𝑂2
gases. Therefore, they are the same color.

The reacting system in the flasks is chemical equilibrium.

𝑁2 𝑂4 ⇌ 2𝑁𝑂2

V. Application and Reflection

Not all reactions go to completion. When all the reactants in a reaction are used up the
reaction is said to have gone to completion. However, in some reactions, not all reactants are used.
Reactions that go to completion are irreversible. However, in some reactions, the reactants form
products (in a forward reaction), and the products can change back into reactants (in a reverse
reaction). In all reactions, as the amount of reactant in a reaction decreases the product is formed
more slowly. In a reversible reaction, as the amount of product increases the reactant is formed
more quickly. Eventually, the rate of the forward reaction (reactants → products) equals the rate
of the reverse reaction (products → reactants). At this point, there are still reactants present but
there does not appear to be any further change taking place. The reaction is said to be in chemical
equilibrium.

Knowledge of chemical equilibrium allows us to predict the direction of chemical reactions

and calculate the composition of the final reaction mixture. This allows to control the reaction
conditions to favor the formation of desired products.

VI. References

Rock, Peter A, and Vanderzee, Cecil E. Chemical Equilibrium. AccessScience, McGraw-Hill Global
Education Holdings, March 2020, https://www.accessscience.com/content/chemical-equilibrium/127300

TutorVista. Chemical Equilibrium, YouTube, March 2018,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Bx5eqQec-w.
Jason Goudie. VCE Chemistry Unit 3: Equilibrium Iron Thiocyanate, YouTube, August 2021,
https://youtu.be/xT43fdoT_4w