20 Work, Equilibrium and Free Energy - S

Work, Equilibrium and Free Energy
Does the work done by a reaction change with different amounts of reactants?
Why?
The scientific definition of work is force acting on an object to move it some distance. If the object does
not move, then no work was done. The farther it moves, the more work was done. Chemical reactions can
be used to do work. A reaction might produce a gas that could move a piston or produce an electrical cur-
rent that could run a motor. Gibbs free energy, ∆G, is equal to the work that can be done by (∆G < 0) or
must be done on (∆G > 0) a reaction. The amount of work is dependent on how many moles of substance
must react before reaching equilibrium.
Model 1 – Moving a Block
A E
B D
1. Consider the ramp system in Model 1. The block at position C is a freely moving, frictionless object.
a. When the ball is released from position A where will it go?
b. When the ball hits the block at the bottom of the ramp what will happen?
2. Compare what will happen to the block when the ball is released from position A to what will
happen when the ball is released from position B. Explain your reasoning.
3. Is more work done by the ball when it is released from position A or position B? Explain your
reasoning.
4. Compare what will happen to the block when the ball is released from position A to what will
happen when the ball is released from position E. Explain your reasoning.
Work, Equilibrium and Free Energy 1

5. Is more work done by the ball when it is released from position A or position E?
6. Identify two other positions on the ramp system that the ball could be released from and do an
equal amount of work, but in opposite directions.
7. How much work will be done by the ball if it is released from a position just to the left or right
of position C? Explain your reasoning.
Model 2 – Comparing Q, K eq and ∆G

N2 (g) + 3H2 (g) → 2NH3 (g) K p = 6.0 × 105 at 25 °C
Initial Initial Initial Direction of

Trial PN2 PH2 PNH3 QP Spontaneous ∆G → (J)
(atm) (atm) (atm) Reaction
1 3.85 1.20 1499.70 −1420

2 3.83 1.16 1499.76 −1150
3 3.81 1.12 1499.82 −879
4 3.79 1.08 1499.88 −595
5 3.77 1.04 1499.94 −302
6 3.75 1.00 1500.00 0
7 3.73 0.96 1500.06 320
8 3.71 0.92 1500.12 650
9 3.69 0.88 1500.18 994
10 3.67 0.84 1500.24 1350
8. Write the equilibrium constant expression, K p, for the reaction in Model 2.
9. Based on the value of K p, does this reaction favor products or reactants?
2 POGIL™ Activities for AP* Chemistry

10. For each of the 10 trials of the reaction in Model 2, calculate the reaction quotient, Q p. Divide
the work among group members.
11. According to the calculated Q p values, were any of the trials at equilibrium initially? Justify your
reasoning.
12. Compare the Q p and K p for each trial and indicate with an arrow the direction the reaction will
need to go to reach equilibrium.
13. Consider the ∆G values provided in Model 2.
a. List the trials in which work will be done by the system (the reaction would be spontaneous)
when the reaction proceeds in the forward direction.
b. List the trials in which work must be done to the system (the reaction would not be spontane-
ous) in order for the reaction to proceed in the forward direction.
c. For the trials just listed in part b, would work need to be done on the system (nonspontane-
ous), or would work be done by the system (spontaneous) when the reaction proceeded in the
reverse direction?
14. Circle the correct word to complete the sentence based on the data in Model 2.
a. When a reaction spontaneously proceeds toward equilibrium in the (forward/reverse) direc-
tion, ∆G is a negative number (∆G < 0).
b. When a reaction spontaneously proceeds toward equilibrium in the (forward/reverse) direc-
tion, ∆G is a positive number (∆G > 0).
15. What is the value of ∆G when a reaction is at equilibrium and will spontaneously react in both
directions?
16. According to the data in Model 2, if the reaction is already at equilibrium, how much work can
be done by the reaction?

17. Compare the Q p values for trials 1 and 4 in Model 2.
a. In which trial must more moles of nitrogen react in order to reach equilibrium?
b. In which trial will the reaction do more work as it proceeds towards equilibrium? Justify your
answer.
Model 3 – Graph of ∆G versus Q p

2000.00
1500.00
1000.00
Free Energy, ∆G ( J)
500.00
0.00
–500.00
–1000.00
–1500.00
–2000.00
2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00 7.00 8.00 9.00 10.00 11.00
Reaction Quotient, Q P (× 10 ) 5
18. Mark an “X” on the line in the graph to indicate the point at which the system from Model 2 is
at equilibrium.
19. Consider the points that are to the left of the “X.” In which direction would the reaction proceed
spontaneously for these points? Add an arrow to Model 3 to show the direction.
20. Consider the points that are to the right of the “X.” In which direction would the reaction pro-
ceed spontaneously for these points? Add an arrow to Model 3 to show the direction.

21. The sign of ∆G has nothing to do with the amount of work that is done, but rather is the direc-
tion the reaction will proceed spontaneously. Now that we have arrows on the graph to indicate
direction, let’s just look at the value of ∆G. Sketch a line representing the absolute value of ∆G
versus Q p.
22. Imagine the ball from Model 1 is placed on the absolute value graph in Model 3.
a. If the ball started at Q p = 9.0 × 105, which direction would it roll?
b. At what point on the absolute value graph would the ball eventually come to rest?
c. If the ball started at Q p = 3.0 × 105, which direction would it roll?
d. At what point on the absolute value graph would the ball eventually come to rest?
23. Imagine the ball from Model 1 is rolling along the graph in Model 3.
a. How does the work done by the ball compare when it starts at Q p = 3.0 × 105 and when it
starts at Q p = 5.0 × 105?
b. How does the work done by the ball compare when Q p = 9.0 × 105 to when Q p = 4.0 × 105?
24. Imagine you start the reaction in Model 2 with the conditions of trial 4 and you want to end the
reaction with the conditions of trial 1.
a. Would work be done by the system or would work need to be done on the system to make
this change? Justify your reasoning.
b. How much work would be done or required to make this change?

25. In complete sentences, discuss how a ball on a ramp system like that in Model 1 could be an
analogy for reactions proceeding from various starting conditions toward equilibrium. You may
want to include diagrams with your answer.
26. List the conditions required for ∆G°.
27. Are any of the ∆G’s in Model 2 equal to ∆G°? Justify your reasoning.
28. Would the ∆G° for the reaction in Model 2 be positive or negative? Justify your reasoning.

Extension Questions
29. A student in class states “A reaction can never proceed past equilibrium.” Use the concepts from
this activity to support the student’s statement.
30. Look at the reaction in Model 2.

a. Based on the change in moles of gas, predict the sign on the entropy term, ∆S.
b. Is the reaction exothermic or endothermic? Justify your reasoning.
c. The reaction system can do work when it proceeds in the forward direction. Based on the
information in this activity, which of the methods listed below is the most likely method by
which the work is done? Support your answer with an explanation.
• Expansion of a gas.
• Electrical current.
• Heating a substance.

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Work, Equilibrium and Free Energy

Model 1 – Moving a Block

Work, Equilibrium and Free Energy 1

Model 2 – Comparing Q, K eq and ∆G

Initial Initial Initial Direction of

1 3.85 1.20 1499.70 −1420

9. Based on the value of K p, does this reaction favor products or reactants?

2 POGIL™ Activities for AP* Chemistry

Work, Equilibrium and Free Energy 3

Model 3 – Graph of ∆G versus Q p

4 POGIL™ Activities for AP* Chemistry

c. If the ball started at Q p = 3.0 × 105, which direction would it roll?

b. How much work would be done or required to make this change?

Work, Equilibrium and Free Energy 5

26. List the conditions required for ∆G°.

6 POGIL™ Activities for AP* Chemistry

30. Look at the reaction in Model 2.

b. Is the reaction exothermic or endothermic? Justify your reasoning.

Work, Equilibrium and Free Energy 7

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