Chapter 15

Chemical Equilibrium
Learning goals and key skills:
Understand what is meant by chemical equilibrium and how it relates to reaction rates
Write the equilibrium-constant expression for any reaction
Relate Kc and Kp
Relate the magnitude of an equilibrium constant to the relative amounts of reactants and
products present in an equilibrium mixture.
Manipulate the equilibrium constant to reflect changes in the chemical equation
Write the equilibrium-constant expression for a heterogeneous reaction
Calculate an equilibrium constant from concentration measurements
Predict the direction of a reaction given the equilibrium constant and concentrations of
reactants and products
Calculate equilibrium concentrations given the equilibrium constant and all but one
equilibrium concentration
Calculate equilibrium concentrations given the equilibrium constant and the starting
concentrations
Understand how changing the concentrations, volume, or temperature of a system at
equilibrium affects the equilibrium position.

The Concept of Equilibrium

Chemical equilibrium occurs when a reaction and

its reverse reaction proceed at the same rate.

The Concept of Equilibrium

As a system approaches
equilibrium, both the
forward and reverse
reactions are occurring.
At equilibrium, the
forward and reverse
reactions are proceeding
at the same rate.
Once equilibrium is
achieved, the amount of
each reactant and
product remains
constant.

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 Chemical equilibrium occurs when
opposing reactions are proceeding at equal rates.

N2O4 (g) 2 NO2 (g)

Since, in a system at equilibrium, both the forward
and reverse reactions are being carried out, we
write its equation with a double arrow.

Forward reaction: Reverse reaction:

N2O4 (g) 2 NO2 (g) 2 NO2 (g) N2O4 (g)

Rate Law: Rate Law:

Rate = kf [N2O4] Rate = kr [NO2]2

Equilibrium Constant
Therefore, at equilibrium
Ratef = Rater
kf [N2O4] = kr [NO2]2
Rewriting this, it becomes

kf [NO2]2
=
kr [N2O4]

kf [NO2]2
Keq = =
kr [N2O4]

The Equilibrium Constant

Consider the generalized reaction
aA + bB cC + dD
The equilibrium expression for this
reaction would be [C]c[D]d
Kc =
[A]a[B]b
Since pressure is proportional to
concentration for gases in a closed
system, the equilibrium expression can
also be written c d
(PC) (PD)
Kp =
(PA)a (PB)b

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 Relationship Between Kc and Kp
From the Ideal Gas Law we know that:
PV = nRT and P = (n/V)RT = [A]RT

Plugging this into the expression for Kp

for each substance, the relationship
between Kc and Kp becomes

Kp = Kc (RT)n
where
n = (moles of gaseous product) - (moles of gaseous reactant)

Equilibrium Can Be Reached

from Either Direction

The ratio of [NO2]2 to

[N2O4] remains
constant at this
temperature no
matter what the initial
concentrations of NO2
and N2O4 are.

Equilibrium Can Be Reached

from Either Direction

It doesnt matter whether we start

with N2 and H2 or whether we start
with NH3: we will have the same
proportions of all three substances
at equilibrium.

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 What Does the Value of K Mean?
If K>>1, the reaction is
product-favored;
product predominates
at equilibrium.

If K<<1, the reaction is

reactant-favored;
reactant predominates
at equilibrium.

*When 10-3 < K < 103, the reaction is considered to contain a

significant amount of both reactants and products at equilibrium.

Manipulating Equilibrium Constants

The equilibrium constant of a reaction in the
reverse reaction is the reciprocal of the
equilibrium constant of the forward reaction.
[NO ]2
N2O4 (g) 2 NO2 (g) Kc = [N O2 ] = 0.212 at 100 C
2 4

[N2O4]
2 NO2 (g) N2O4 (g) Kc = [NO 2 = 4.72 at 100 C
2]

The equilibrium constant for a net reaction made up of

two or more steps is the product of the equilibrium
constants for the individual steps.

Manipulating Kcs

Reverse directions.
Kc,new = inverse of Kc, old.

Multiply a reaction by a number, n.

Kc,new = (Kc,old)n

Add chemical equations, multiply the Ks.

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 The Concentrations of Solids and
Liquids Are Essentially Constant
Therefore, the concentrations of solids
and liquids do not appear in the
equilibrium expression.

PbCl2 (s) Pb2+ (aq) + 2 Cl-(aq)

Kc = [Pb2+] [Cl-]2

CaCO3 (s) CO2 (g) + CaO(s)

As long as some CaCO3 or CaO remain in the
system, the amount of CO2 above the solid will
remain the same.

Equilibrium constant, Kc (Keq or K)

Always products divided by reactants. (Although
sometimes products are equal to 1 and reactants
are equal to 1.)
All concentrations are equilibrium values.
Each concentration is raised to its stoichiometric
coefficient.
Kc depends on the rate constants which in turn
depend on the reaction (Ea) and temperature.
No units on Kc.
Pure solids and pure liquids are excluded from Kc.
A catalyst does not change the equilibrium
concentrations, so it does not change Kc.

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 An Equilibrium Problem
A closed system initially containing 1.000 x
10-3 M H2 and 2.000 x 10-3 M I2 at 448 C
is allowed to reach equilibrium. Analysis of
the equilibrium mixture shows that the
concentration of HI is 1.87 x 10-3 M.
Calculate Kc at 448 C for the reaction
taking place, which is

H2 (g) + I2 (g) 2 HI (g)

What Do We Know?

[H2], M [I2], M [HI], M

Initially 1.000 x 10-3 2.000 x 10-3 0

Change

Equilibrium 1.87 x 10-3

[HI] Increases by 1.87 x 10-3 M

[H2], M [I2], M [HI], M

Initially 1.000 x 10-3 2.000 x 10-3 0

Change +1.87 x 10-3

Equilibrium 1.87 x 10-3

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 Stoichiometry tells us [H2] and [I2]
decrease by half as much.

[H2], M [I2], M [HI], M

Initially 1.000 x 10-3 2.000 x 10-3 0

Change -9.35 x 10-4 -9.35 x 10-4 +1.87 x 10-3

Equilibrium 1.87 x 10-3

We can now calculate the equilibrium

concentrations of all three compounds

[H2], M [I2], M [HI], M

Initially 1.000 x 10-3 2.000 x 10-3 0

Change -9.35 x 10-4 -9.35 x 10-4 +1.87 x 10-3

Equilibrium 6.5 x 10-5 1.065 x 10-3 1.87 x 10-3

and, therefore, the equilibrium constant.

[HI]2
Kc =
[H2] [I2]
(1.87 x 10-3)2
=
(6.5 x 10-5)(1.065 x 10-3)
= 51

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 Example
Phosphorus pentachloride gas partially decomposes
to phosphorus trichloride gas and chlorine gas.
1.20 mol PCl5 is placed in a 1.00 L container at 200
C. At equilibrium 1.00 mol PCl5 remains. Calculate
Kc and Kp at 200 C.

The Reaction Quotient (Q)

Q gives the same ratio the
equilibrium expression
gives, but for a system
that is not at equilibrium.
To calculate Q, substitute
the (initial) concentrations
of reactants and products
into the equilibrium
expression.

aA + bB cC + dD

[C] [ D]d
c

Q =
[ A]a [ B ]b

Comparing K and Q

If Q < K
Theres too much reactant
Need to increase the amount of products and
decrease the amount of reactants

If Q > K
Theres too much product
Need to decrease the amount of products and
increase the amount of reactants

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 Example

In the steam-reforming reaction, methane reacts with

water vapor to form carbon monoxide and hydrogen
gas. At 900 K, Kc = 2.4 10-4.

If 0.012 mol of methane, 0.0080 mol of water vapor,

0.016 mol of carbon monoxide and 0.0060 mol of
hydrogen gas are placed in a 2.0-L steel reactor and
heated to 900 K, which way will the reaction proceed:
to the right (products) or left (reactants)?

Example
Problem: Finding equilibrium concentrations from
initial concentrations and the equilibrium constant.

N2(g) + O2(g) 2NO(g) Kc = 0.10 at 2000 C

A reaction mixture at 2000 C initially contains [N2]

= 0.200 M and [O2] = 0.200 M.
Find the equilibrium concentrations of the reactants
and products at this temperature.
Represent the change in concentration of one of the
reactants (or products) with the variable x.
Define the changes in concentration of the other reactants
and/or products in terms of x.
Tip: Usually convenient to let x represent the change in
concentration of the reactant (or product) with the smallest
stoichiometric coefficient.

Example
Problem: Finding equilibrium concentrations from
initial concentrations and the equilibrium constant.

N2O4(g) 2NO2(g) Kc = 0.36 at 2000 C

A reaction mixture at 2000 C initially contains

[NO2] = 0.100 M. Find the equilibrium
concentrations of the reactants and products at
this temperature.

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 Le Chteliers Principle

If a system at equilibrium is disturbed by a

change in temperature, pressure or the
concentration of one of the components, the
system will shift its equilibrium position so as
to counteract the effect of the disturbance.

Changing concentration
Temperature
Changing volume/pressure

Example: Le Chteliers Principle

N2 (g) + 3 H2 (g) 2 NH3 (g)

Kp = 0.0214 at 540 K

Example: at equilibrium
PH2 = 2.319 atm
PNH3 = 0.454 atm
PN2 = 0.773 atm
What happens upon addition of 1 atm of H2?

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 The Haber Process

If H2 is added
to the system,
N2 will be
consumed and
the two
reagents will
form more
NH3.

The Haber Process

This apparatus helps push the equilibrium to the right by
removing the ammonia (NH3) from the system as a liquid.

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 Le Chteliers Principle: pressure

CO(g) + 3H2(g) CH4(g) + H2O(g)

Boyles law: at a fixed temperature, PV = k
[CH 4 ][H 2 O]
Kc =
[CO ][H 2 ]3
Double the pressure (concentration)

(2[CH 4 ])(2[ H 2 O]) K c Qc < Kc, reaction

Qc = =
( 2[CO])(2[H 2 ]) 3 4 forms products

In summary, if the pressure is increased by

decreasing the volume of a reaction mixture, the
reaction shifts in the direction of fewer moles of gas.

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 Le Chteliers Principle: temperature

endothermic H > 0
heat can be thought of as a reactant
increasing T results in an increase in K

exothermic H < 0
heat can be thought of as a product
increasing T results in an decrease in K

The Effect of Changes in Temperature

Co(H2O)62+ (aq) + 4 Cl- (aq) CoCl42- (aq) + 6 H2O (l)

Example: Le Chteliers Principle

N2O4 (g) 2 NO2 (g) is endothermic.
What occurs with increasing temperature?

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Catalysts

Catalysts increase the

rate of both the
forward and reverse
reactions.

When one uses a

catalyst, equilibrium is
achieved faster, but
the equilibrium
composition remains
unaltered.

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