Reversible Reactions Simulation

Prelab Questions

1. Sketch and label energy diagrams for an exothermic and an endothermic reaction.
Identify each part of the diagrams that represent reactants, products, and
activation energy.

2. Define the following terms:

a. Exothermic reaction: Exothermic reactions are reactions or processes that release
energy, usually in the form of heat or light. In an exothermic reaction, energy is released
because the total energy of the products is less than the total energy of the reactants.

b. Endothermic reaction:Endothermic reactions are chemical reactions in which the

reactants absorb heat energy from the surroundings to form products. These reactions
lower the temperature of their surrounding area, thereby creating a cooling effect.

c. Activation energy: Activation energy, in chemistry, the minimum amount of energy

that is required to activate atoms or molecules to a condition in which they can undergo
chemical transformation or physical transport.

d. Reversible reaction: A reversible reaction is a reaction in which the conversion of

reactants to products and the conversion of products to reactions occur simultaneously. A
and B can react to form C and D or, in the reverse reaction, C and D can react to form A
and B. Weak acids and bases undergo reversible reactions.

e. Equilibrium: Chemical equilibrium is a state in which the rate of the forward reaction
equals the rate of the backward reaction. In other words, there is no net change in
concentrations of reactants and products. This kind of equilibrium is also called dynamic
equilibrium.

f. Equilibrium position:The point in a chemical reaction at which the concentrations of

reactants and products are no longer changing.

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 g. Equilibrium constant:The equilibrium constant of a chemical reaction is the value of
its reaction quotient at chemical equilibrium, a state approached by a dynamic chemical
system after sufficient time has elapsed at which its composition has no measurable
tendency towards further change.

3. Circle the factor(s) below that will cause a change in the equilibrium constant (K)
when that factor is changed. (Keep this in mind as you run your simulations.)
a. Activation energy
b. Initial concentrations
c. Temperature
Directions

1. Open the simulation at http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/reversible-reactions.

The blue-green line on the reactants side (left side) should be at 15 on the ruler,
and the blue-green line on the products side (right side) should be at 8 on the ruler.
Do not change these. The “hump” representing activation energy should be at 25.
Drag this up or down according to the number in the “E a” column in the table below.
2. Before you begin, hit the pause button at the bottom of the simulation. For each
trial, using the tools in the upper right, add the appropriate number of molecules of
“A” and “B” according to the table below. Then hit the “start” button at the bottom
of the simulation to start the timer followed by the “play” button.
3. Allow the simulation to run for several minutes (at least 200 s according to the
simulation timer) until it appears equilibrium has been reached. Stop the timer
once you think equilibrium has been reached. Then record the final concentrations
of A and B at equilibrium and the time it took to reach it.
4. Calculate the equilibrium constant in the rightmost column.
a. For trial 9, add your molecules as before, but once you hit the play button, use
the heat control box (just above the timer) to heat up the reaction. Drag the
blue marker to “Add” and hold it there until the temperature gauge is around
600 K (Temperature will fluctuate, that’s ok). Let it reach equilibrium, then
record your results and calculate K.

Trial
Initial Initial Final Final Time of
Numbe Ea K (equilibrium constant)
A B A B trial
r

1 20 300 300 224 376 200.93 1.679

2 23 300 300 232 368 202.46 1.586

3 26 300 300 237 363 201.61 1.532

4 20 150 450 202 398 217.17 1.970

5 20 450 150 222 378 218.03 1.703

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 6 20 600 0 248 352 201.27 1.419

7 20 200 200 143 257 201.27 1.797

8 20 200 100 110 190 262.14 1.727

9 (↑
20 300 300 234 366 215.80 1.564
temp)

Analysis
1. Compare your first three trials. What variable did you change between those trials
and what remained the same? How did this change affect the results you recorded
and the equilibrium constant?
Variable E changed, the equilibrium constant started at 1.67 and decreased till 1.53.

2. Compare trials 1, 4, 5, and 6. What variable did you change between those trials
and what remained the same? How did this change affect the results you recorded
and the equilibrium constant?
The amount of molecules in initial A and B, the constant remain high, it a range of 1.6 and
1.9

3. Compare trials 1, 7, and 8. What variable did you change between those trials and
what remained the same? How did this change affect the results you recorded and
the equilibrium constant?
Only initial b changed from trial 8, even though initial b is different they have a similar
number from 1.6 and 1.7

4. Compare trial 1 and trial 9. What variable did you change between those trials and
what remained the same? How did this change affect the results you recorded and
the equilibrium constant?
Temperature, and there is a difference in time, the constant decreased.

5. Is the reaction A 🡪 B in this simulation an endothermic or exothermic reaction?

Explain.

Exothermic, because even though A has more amounts of molecules it keeps releasing it.

6. Which side of the reaction, A or B, is favored? Considering your answer to #5, why
do you think that is?

B is more favorable in most cases.

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 7. If the platforms representing A and B reversed positions, what type of reaction
(endothermic or exothermic) would A🡪B be? What do you think would be different
about K in general? What would differ in the results of trial 9? Justify your
predictions with evidence gathered from this experiment and your understanding of
equilibrium and thermodynamics.
It will be endothermic, my prediction is that the constant will remain low since in
some of the cases where b is higher than the constant is low.

Ethan Galindo - Ximena Mejia

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