Topic : REVERSIBLE REACTION AND CHEMICAL

EQUILIBRIUM
L/O:
1. State that some chemical reactions are reversible as shown by the symbol ⇌
2. Describe how changing the conditions can change the direction of a reversible reaction for:
(a) the effect of heat on hydrated compounds
(b) the addition of water to anhydrous compounds limited to copper(II) sulfate and cobalt(II) chloride
3. State and explain the conditions for a chemical reaction at equilibrium
4. Predict and explain, for a reversible reaction, how the position of equilibrium is affected by:
(a) changing temperature
(b) changing pressure
(c) changing concentration
(d) using a catalyst
using information provided
5. Explain the Haber and the Contact processes. By STEPHEN
 Starter:

1. Mention at least three synonyms

of reversible
2. Describe a chemical reaction
you think could be reversible. How
is this reaction different from an
irreversible one?
REVERSIBLE REACTION
Study Check
 Dynamic Equilibrium

In a reversible reaction,
this occurs when opposite
actions are taking place at
the same rate; products
occur at the same rate as
the reactants
For example, if you are
rowing upstream at exactly
the same rate as the
downstream current, the
boat has no net movement
 Equilibrium

For a closed system at equilibrium:

(a) the rate of the forward reaction is equal to

the rate of the reverse reaction

(b) the concentrations of reactants and products

are no longer changing
CHECKPOINT
 LE CHATELIER’S
PRINCIPLE

When a reversible reaction is

in equilibrium and it is
subjected to a change, the
system will readjust to
oppose the change, and
restore equilibrium.
Shifting the equilibrium
 TEMPERATURE

Factors that
can shift the PRESSURE
Equilibrium
position
CONCENTRATION
 EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE
The effect of temperature depends on the enthalpy
change for the reaction.

CHANGE ENDOTHERMIC EXOTHERMIC

Increase in Equilibrium shifts to the Equilibrium shifts to the
temperature right to favour the forward left to favour the reverse
reaction. reaction.

Decrease in Equilibrium shifts to the Equilibrium shifts to the

temperature left to favour the reverse right to favour the
reaction. forward reaction.
EFFECT OF PRESSURE
This effect only applies to
gaseous reactants and it depends
on the volume of the reacting
species. The pressure is
inversely related to the volume,
meaning that the higher the
volume the lower the pressure,
and vice versa. The volume of
the reacting species is the same
as the number of their
molecules.
 EFFECT OF CONCENTRATION
An increase in the concentration of the reactants will result in a
corresponding increase in the concentration of the products, and
vice versa.

(1) Removing a product from a reaction at equilibrium will allow more reactants to go on and form
more products so that balance is regained (Right)
(2) Adding more reactants to a reaction at equilibrium means more products must be made (Right)
 ADDITION OF
CATALYST
A catalyst speeds up the forward
and back reactions equally. So the
reaction reaches equilibrium faster,
which saves you time. But it does not
shift the equilibrium position of the
reaction as there is no net change in
the rate of the forward and the
reverse reactions.
THE HABER
PROCESS
The Haber process is
the industrial
preparation of
ammonia gas under
certain reaction
conditions.
6. Note that
Iron (Fe) is a
catalyst for the
reaction. It
increases the
rate of the
reaction
without being
used up in the
reaction.
 CHECKPOINT
Consider the chemical equation below for the manufacture of
ammonia in the Haber process. The reaction is exothermic.

State three conditions that will favour the

production of more ammonia.
Decrease in temperature: since the reaction is exothermic, a decrease in temperature will shift the
equilibrium to the right, thereby favouring the forward reaction and hence producing more
ammonia

Increase in Pressure: note that the overall volume of the product is 2 volumes, and that of the
reactants is 4 volumes. Therefore, for us to have a smaller volume (ammonia), the pressure must be
increased. Recall that if the volume is small, then the pressure will be big, and vice versa.

Increase the concentration of nitrogen and hydrogen gases: when the concentration of the
reactants(nitrogen and hydrogen) is increased, it will cause the concentration of the product
 THE CONTACT PROCESS
The contact process, for making sulfuric acid, is a process that involves a
reversible reaction.
 1

Practice
questions
3