Chemical

Equilibrium
Chapter 4
Chemical Equilibrium

 REVERSIBLE REACTION: a reaction which takes place not only

in forward direction but also in backward direction under the same
condition . Ex
3Fe (s) +4H2O(g) ⇌ Fe3O4 (s) + 4H2 (g)

 IRREVERSIBLE REACTION: a reaction which can not take place

in the reverse direction i.e. the products formed do not react to give
back the same reactants under same conditions. Ex
2Mg + O2 → 2MgO
 Chemical Equilibrium

 Chemical equilibrium is a dynamic condition

in which concentrations do not change and the
rates of the forward and reverse reactions are
equal.
 Meaning…
 The reactants are making products at the same
rate that products are making reactants.
Chemical Equilibrium

 Does this
graph look
familiar?
The
equilibrium
begins  According to
here. this
Concentration v.
Time graph,
where is the
equilibrium?
Chemical Equilibrium

 Hydrogen and nitrogen combine to form

ammonia at the same time ammonia is
decomposing into hydrogen and nitrogen.

 3H2(g) + N2(g) ⇌ 2NH3(g) + heat

 The concentrations of hydrogen, nitrogen,

and ammonia remain constant as both the
forward and reverse reactions proceed at the
same rate.
 Chemical Equilibrium

 Only reactions that meet these five conditions

can reach equilibrium:
• The reaction must occur in a closed
container.
• Dynamic
• The reaction must be a reversible reaction.
• The forward and reverse reactions proceed at
the same rate.
• Microscopic
Homogen & Heterogen
Equilibrium
nHomogen
3H2(g) + N2(g) ⇌ 2NH3(g)

n Heterogen
3Fe (s) +4H2O(g) ⇌ Fe3O4 (s) + 4H2 (g)
Chemical Equilibrium

 How is equilibrium measured?

with an Equilibrium Constant (Keq)

 For a reversible reaction (one that proceeds in
both the forward and reverse directions), the
equilibrium constant (Keq) is a number showing
the relationship between the mathematical
product of the concentrations of the products
divided by the mathematical products of the
concentrations of the reactants, each raised to
the power of its coefficient in a balanced
equation.
 The equation to calculate this relationship is called an
equilibrium expression.
 To determine the expression for any reaction:

 **Concentration (molarity) is represented by putting

a [bracket] around a formula. [H+] means “the
concentration of hydrogen ions”
 EXAMPLE:
3H2 (g) + N2 (g) ⇌ 2NH3 (g)
Write the equilibrium expression for the reaction
above:

• In the above Keq expression, [NH3] is raised to the power

of 2 because its coefficient in the balanced equation is 2.
[H2] is raised to the power of 3 because its coefficient is 3,
and the power of [N2] is 1 because its coefficient is 1.
 Only use [GASES (g)] and [AQUEOUS (aq)]
compounds in Keq expressions because [SOLIDS
(s)] and [LIQUIDS (l)] have no concentrations, so
they do not need to be included.
 EXAMPLE:
C3H8(g) + 5 O2(g) ⇌ 3 CO2(g) + 4 H2O(l)
Write the equilibrium expression for the reaction above:

(the [H2O] is not used because it’s a liquid)

EXAMPLE:
A mixture of plenty of gaseous H2O and solid C are placed in
a large container and allowed to come to equilibrium
according to the following reaction:
C(s) + H2O(g) ⇌ CO(g) + H2(g)
The equilibrium concentrations of the species are as
follows: [H2O] = 0.56 M, [CO] = 0.33 M, and [H2] = 0.040
M. What is the value of the equilibrium constant for this
reaction?
EXAMPLE:
C(s) + H2O(g) ⇌ CO(g) + H2(g)
Let us assume that you run this reaction again in a new
container with fresh water and carbon. This time, you are
able to measure the carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas,
only, finding [CO] = 0.15 M and [H2] = 0.045 M. What is
the equilibrium concentration of water in this scenario?
You know the value of K eq … K eq  0.024

You know the expression of K eq … K eq 

CO H 2 
H O 
2
 0.024 
0.15 0.045 
x 
0.024 x  0.15 0.045 
0.024 x  0.00675
x  0.28125
So, [H 2O] = 0.28 M
n 2 moles of PCl5 are put in a 2 L container and heated to 250°C to achieve
an equilibrium state, when 60% of PCl5 decomposes into PCl3 and Cl2.
The value of the equilibrium constant, Kc, for the reaction
PCl5(g) ⇌ PCl3(g)+ Cl2(g) is ...
n In equilibrium: A (g) + B (g) ⇌ C (g) + D (g)
When 1 mole of each reactant is mixed, 0.6 moles of each product
are formed, what is the value of the equilibrium constant for the
reaction if the volume of a closed container is 1 L?
 EQUILIBRIUM CONSTANT BASED
ON PARTIAL PRESSURES (Kp)
 
Only use [GASES (g)] compounds in Kp expressions.
n 5 moles of PCl3 gas and 5 moles of Cl2 gas are needed
to form 3 moles of PCl5 gas. You give the total pressure
to be 2.1 atm. Determine the price of Kp.
 �� = �� (�. �)∆�

where,
R = gas constant (0,082 L atm/ K mol)
T = temperature (K)
Δn = the number of product coefficients - the number of
reactant coefficients
At a temperature of 27°C in a room with a pressure of 1 atm there is
N2O4 gas which breaks down into NO2 according to the reaction:
N2O4 (g) ⇄ 2NO2 (g)
R = 0.082 and the value of Kp = 0.489 atm, then the value of Kc at
that temperature is 0.02

Δn = 2 - 1
=1
Le Chatelier’s Principle

 When a system (reaction) that is at

equilibrium is STRESSED, the rate of either
the forward or reverse reaction must change
to accommodate the new change in
conditions. Therefore, the system will shift
its equilibrium point in order to relieve the
stress, and the concentrations of reactants
and products will change.
Le Chatelier’s Principle
1. Concentration: The system will shift concentrations
away from the added component. K remains the
same.

2. Temperature: K changes depending upon the

reaction.
n If the temperature rises, then the equilibrium will shift
to endothermic.
n If the temperature drops, the reaction will shift to
exothermic
If endothermic, heat is treated as a “reactant”, if exothermic, heat is a
“product”. Endo- > K increases; Exo- > K decreases.
Le Chatelier’s Principle

n 3. Pressure:
Decreasing the volume shifts the equilibrium
toward the side with bigger moles.
n 4. Volume
Decreasing the volume shifts the equilibrium
toward the side with fewer moles.