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Equilibrium

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51 views3 pages

Equilibrium

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api-412415356
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Equilibrium

What’s Equilibrium?
Many sources describe that a system, thing, person, animal, among others have
reached equilibrium when there’s an existing balance between the forces applied to
them, because to reach equilibrium, they need to be canceled or be equal to zero. In
a simpler definition, equilibrium is the lack of change, this state is characterized
when the system doesn’t change in matter of time, has not tendency to
spontaneously change and there’s no driving force (this only applies in closed
systems). Equilibrium isn’t only limited to a physical way, there are many types of
equilibrium such as phase equilibrium, chemical equilibrium and thermodynamic
equilibrium. [1]

Figure 1. Representation of physical equilibrium

● Chemical Equilibrium
Chemical equilibrium is reached when there’s a phase equilibrium and the tendency
to react is non existent. The change of amount between reactants and products
doesn’t occur anymore, the opposing reactions go on at equal rates and it is
reached when the maximum conversion of reactants has been achieved. The
equilibrium constant of chemical reactions (k), which varies in terms of T and P, is
very related to the the Gibbs Free Energy of the reaction, which means that the
difference between the equation of Gibbs Free Energy in the reactants and products
is equal to the negative ln of k multiplied by the gas constant ® and the absolute
temperature (T). Phase Equilibrium is when a system with different phases (liquid,
solid, gas, etc) has no tendency to change [2]. So:
ΔG=0
Figure 2 . Representation of chemical equilibrium [3].

To understand better Chemical Equilibrium we suggest to look over the section of


properties of Gibbs Free Energy and Fugacity.

● Mechanical Equilibrium
Mechanical Equilibrium is managed by the Newton’s Laws of Motion, the net force of
a system equals zero. The definition in terms of thermodynamics is not far from the
previous definition, the system and its surroundings need to have non unbalanced
forces, specifically the pressure gradient should be non existent[4].
ΔP=0
● Thermal Equilibrium
This concept is related to the Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics that refers to the
contact between two systems with the same temperature and a third one, this means
that all three are at the same temperature. This implies that every unit of internal
energy between them is balanced by the same amount of energy passing between
the second and third system.It’s important to mention that if there aren’t chemical
and mechanical equilibrium, thermal equilibrium is impossible [5]. The property that
defines everything is obviously temperature, so:
ΔT=0
Figure 3. Representation of the Zeroth Law [6]

● Thermodynamic Equilibrium
Thermodynamic equilibrium is simply when mechanical, chemical and
thermal equilibrium happen simultaneously, there’s not net driving force
of any type and therefore there’s no possibility of spontaneous change.

ΔG=0 ΔP=0 ΔT=0 → Thermodynamic equilibrium

References:
[1] Hall, N. (2015). Thermodynamic Equilibrium. Glenn Research Center, NASA. Retrieved 06th June 2018, from
https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/thermo0.html
[2] Lotha, G and Young G. (nd). Chemical Equilibrium. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 06th June, 2018, from
https://www.britannica.com/science/chemical-equilibrium
[3] ​(2018). Chemical Equilibrium. BYJU’S. Retrieved 06th June 2018, from
https://byjus.com/chemistry/equilibrium/
[4]​(nd). Definition and fundamental ideas of Thermodynamics. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Retrieved
06th June 2018, from http://web.mit.edu/16.unified/www/FALL/thermodynamics/notes/node11.html
[5]​Nave, R. (nd). Thermal Equilibrium. Retrieved 06th June, from
http://web.mit.edu/16.unified/www/FALL/thermodynamics/notes/node11.html
[6]​Hall, N. (2015). Thermodynamic Equilibrium. Glenn Research Center, NASA. Retrieved 06th June 2018, from
https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/thermo0.html

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