HOW TO LEARN AND MASTER

CHEMICAL EQUILIBRIUM
LESSONS FROM A MASTER

WHAT IS CHEMICAL EQUILIBRIUM?

Chemical Equilibrium is the branch of Physical Chemistry concerned
with the condition in the course of a reversible chemical reaction in which
there is no net change in the amounts of reactants and products.

WHAT CAREERS REQUIRE CHEMICAL EQUILIBRIUM?

The knowledge of Chemical Equilibrium is required for a successful
career in any field involving industrial production processes in which raw
materials (reactants) are changed by controlled chemical reactions into
desired products. The principles of Chemical Equilibrium are applied in the
setting of reaction conditions to favor high yield of desired products.
Fields that require knowledge of Chemical Equilibrium include
Industrial Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Technology, Toxicology, Chemical
Engineering, etc. This is why Chemical Equilibrium is a major topic in
every Physical Chemistry course.

CHANGE YOUR PERCEPTION OF CHEMICAL EQUILIBRIUM

Although Chemical Equilibrium is perceived by students from
different parts of the world as a difficult topic to both learn and
understand, you can change your perception and develop a different
opinion. In my teaching career of over 30 years, I have helped students
learn Chemical Equilibrium with ease by taking the initial steps below.

1. Get inspired and become motivated. See a crystal-clear vision of

the role Chemical Equilibrium plays in your career. Only then will you be
determined to give the required attention and investment of time and
energy in learning to master the topic.

2. Have a knowledge of the basic foundational requirements such

as Number of Moles, Volumes, Molar Concentration, and a good
understanding of the principles of Chemical Kinetics.
 3. Learn how to apply mathematical concepts such as Fractions,
Decimals, Ratios, Percentages, Simple Proportions, Graphing and
Solutions of Algebraic Equations, and Basic Calculus.

MOVE ON TO BECOME A MASTER

For over 30 years, I have recorded excellent results in teaching
students Chemical Equilibrium as a topic in general chemistry. My
students have always turned out to master the topic by employing the
special techniques below, in addition to the initial steps above.

1. Learn in sections. Chemical Equilibrium is divided into sections.

Learn how to handle calculations in each of the sections as shown
below.

A. Equilibrium Constant Expressions and Calculations.

(i) Equilibrium Constant From Equilibrium Concentrations.
(ii) Equilibrium Concentrations From Equilibrium Constant.

B. Gas-Phase Equilibria.
(i) Equilibrium Constant From Partial Pressures.
(ii) Interconversion of Equilibrium Constants.

C. Special Equilibrium Constants.

(i) Ionic Product of Water.
(ii) Dissociation Constants of Weak Acids and Bases.
(iii) Solubility Product Constant.

2. Learn to reason out your solutions from basic principles instead

of using algorithms involving rote memorization and recall of
stereotyped steps that you do not clearly understand. You might be
faced with a novel, data-involved, and technically mixed problem
that can only be solved by reasoning.

3. Use a specialized textbook on Chemical Equilibrium. This is far

better than a general chemistry textbook written to present all
topics within a limited space. An independent textbook on Chemical
Equilibrium is highly recommended because it is expected to be
more detailed on the topic. I highly recommend my textbook:
“Mastering Chemical Kinetics and Chemical Equilibrium by
Temple Eke”; a detailed masterpiece with many illustrative
 examples and lots of practice exercises. (See the link
https://amzn.to/3EC3aoA to read the book).

CONCLUSION
“Mastery and expertise are products of persistence and consistency in
practice.” - Temple Eke.
You must practice solving a wide variety of problems. This will help
you to recognize the various categories of Chemical Equilibrium problems
and increase your speed in developing solution strategies. Again, a
specialized textbook on Chemical Equilibrium is expected to offer lots of
illustrative examples and practice exercises.

THE AUTHOR
Temple Eke has been an active teacher of Chemistry, Mathematics,
Physics, and Biology for over 30 years, helping thousands of students
excel in their various careers. He is the author of over 40 books in
Mathematics, Physics, Biology, and Chemistry. He is well known for his
simplified teaching technique and explicit writing style.