F.

G PUBLIC SCHOOL KARACHI CANTT

LECTURE PLAN
Subject: Chemistry Date: 15, march 2024
Class: X Federal Board Lesson No: 05
Chapter: 09, Chemical Equilibrium Topic: Exploring Conditions of Chemical
Equilibrium and Macroscopic
Characteristics
Instructor Name: Mrs. Saakhi Sooraj

Objective / Goal / SLO’s:

At the end of a 45min class, students will be able:
1. Understand the conditions necessary for chemical equilibrium
2. Recognize the macroscopic characteristics of systems at equilibrium.
3. Understand the real world applications of chemical equilibrium.

Instructor Aids, Tools or Material needed / Resources

X fb text book (KPK), soft board, white board, marker

Prior knowledge questions

1. Why reversible reactions never complete?

Ans: because they proceed in both forward and reverse directions simultaneously,
reaching a dynamic equilibrium.

2. What happens at the molecular level when a chemical reaction reaches

equilibrium?
Ans: At equilibrium, molecules switch between reactants and products at equal rates,
maintaining stability

3. Explain why the concentrations of reactants and products appear constant at

equilibrium, even though the reactions are still occurring.

Ans: because the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are equal, resulting in no net
change in the concentrations despite ongoing reactions.

Macroscopic characteristics of dynamic equilibrium

A few important characteristic features of dynamic equilibrium are given below:

1. The system must be closed, meaning no substances can enter or leave the system.
2. At equilibrium state, a reaction does not stop. Forward and reverse reactions keep on
taking place at the same rate but in opposite direction.
3. At equilibrium state, the amount (concentration) of reactants and products do not
change. Even physical properties like colour, density, etc. remain the same.
4. An equilibrium state is attainable from either way, i.e. starting from reactants or from
products.

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 5. An equilibrium state can be disturbed and again achieved under the given conditions of
concentration, pressure and temperature

let's discuss each characteristics one by one:

1. The system must be closed, meaning no substances can enter or leave the system.

Why we need a closed system to achieve chemical equilibrium.

Imagine you're trying to balance on a seesaw with a friend. To stay perfectly balanced, you both need
to be able to adjust your positions freely, right? Well, in chemistry, it's a bit like that too!

Chemical equilibrium is like that perfectly balanced seesaw, where the forward and reverse reactions
are happening at the same rate. But here's the thing: for this balance to happen, we need a setup where
nothing can come in or out, just like when you're playing on a seesaw, you don't want someone
jumping on or off unexpectedly.
So, in chemistry, we call this setup a closed system. It's like having a magic box where we can do
our reaction, but nothing from outside can sneak in, and nothing from inside can escape. This way,
whatever chemicals we start with, and whatever we make during the reaction, all stay inside the box.

Now, imagine if we were doing our reaction in an open field instead. People could come and go, the
wind might blow stuff away, and we'd never really get that perfect balance. That's why we need our
closed system—it's like our own little chemistry playground, where we can focus on getting
everything just right. So, when we talk about achieving chemical equilibrium, remember that it's all
about finding that balance, and having a closed system is like our secret ingredient to making it
happen

2. At equilibrium state, a reaction does not stop. Forward and Reverse reactions keep
on taking place at the same rate but in opposite direction.

Okay, students, let's talk about what happens when a reaction reaches equilibrium.
Imagine you're playing a game of tug-of-war. You've got two teams pulling with all their
might, but neither side is winning—it's a perfect tie. That's a bit like what happens in a
chemical reaction at equilibrium!

So, at equilibrium, the forward and reverse reactions are still happening. It's like both
teams in our tug-of-war are pulling with the same strength. Even though they're pulling in
opposite directions, they're pulling equally hard, so the rope stays right in the middle—it
doesn't move in either direction.

Now, why does this happen? Well, it's because molecules are always moving and bumping
into each other. When they bump into each other in just the right way, they can either stick
together to make new stuff (that's the forward reaction) or break apart to go back to what
they were before (that's the reverse reaction).

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At equilibrium, the rate of the forward reaction is the same as the rate of the reverse
reaction. So, even though these reactions are still happening, they're happening at the same
speed in both directions. It's like they're canceling each other out, keeping everything in
balance.

And that's why, even though a reaction at equilibrium might seem like it's stopped, it's
actually still going on—it's just that the forward and reverse reactions are happening at the
same rate, so there's no overall change. It's like our tug-of-war game, where both teams are
pulling equally hard, and the rope stays right in the middle.
.

3. At equilibrium state, the amount of reactants and products do not change

A real-life example of equilibrium is the dynamic equilibrium between ice and water in a glass of ice
water at a constant temperature.

When you place ice cubes in a glass of water, they start to melt due to the higher temperature of the
water. As the ice melts, it turns into water, increasing the amount of liquid water in the glass.

At the same time, water molecules in the liquid phase collide with the surface of the ice cubes and
freeze back into solid ice. This process continues until the rate of melting (ice turning into water)
equals the rate of freezing (water turning into ice).

At this point, the system reaches a dynamic equilibrium where the amount of ice melting is balanced
by the amount of water freezing. As a result, the overall amount of ice and water in the glass remains
constant over time, even though individual molecules are continuously changing state between solid
and liquid phases.

4. An equilibrium state is attainable from either way, i.e. starting from reactants or
from products.

Let’s talk about how we can reach equilibrium from both sides of a chemical reaction.
Imagine you're hiking up a mountain. You can start at the bottom and climb up, or you can
start at the top and descend down. Either way, you'll eventually reach the same point—the
peak!

In chemistry, it's a bit like that too. Whether we start with reactants and let them react to
form products, or we start with products and allow them to react backward to form
reactants, we can still end up at the same place—equilibrium!

Picture a reaction where A and B react to form C and D. If we start with just A and B,
they'll combine to form C and D. But if we start with only C and D, they can react
backward to reform A and B. It's like going up and down the mountain—the path might be
different, but we still end up at the same spot.

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 5. An equilibrium state can be disturbed and again achieved under the given
conditions of concentration, pressure and temperature

When a reaction is at equilibrium, it means that the forward and reverse reactions are
happening at the same rate, so there's no overall change in the concentrations of reactants
and products. But, if we change something like the concentration of reactants or products,
the pressure, or the temperature, it can disturb this balance.

For example, if we add more reactants, the equilibrium will shift to favor the formation of
products until a new balance is reached. Similarly, changes in pressure or temperature can
also cause the equilibrium to shift to restore balance.

So, in chemistry, equilibrium can be disturbed by changes in concentration, pressure, or

temperature, but the system will adjust to restore balance.

Bellringer Activity: Chemical Equilibrium

1. Read each scenario below.

2. Write down your answer in one sentence for each scenario.
3. Be ready to share your answers with the class.

Scenario 1: You observe that the concentrations of reactants A and B remain constant over
time.

Scenario 2: You notice that there is no visible change in the color of the reaction mixture.

Scenario 3: When you measure the pressure inside the reaction vessel, you find that it
remains constant.

Conditions for Equilibrium

It may be tempting to think that once equilibrium has been reached, the reaction stops. Chemical
equilibrium is a dynamic process. The forward and reverse reactions continue to occur even after
equilibrium has been reached. However, because the rates of the reactions are the same, there is no
change in the relative concentrations of reactants and products for a reaction that is at equilibrium.
The conditions of a system at equilibrium are summarized below

1. Closed System: The reaction must occur in a closed system where no substances can enter
or leave during the reaction. This ensures that the amounts of reactants and products remain
constant.

2. Dynamic Equilibrium: The rates of the forward and reverse reactions must be equal.

3. Constant Temperature: The temperature of the system must remain constant, as changes
in temperature can affect the equilibrium position of the reaction.

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 4. Equilibrium Concentrations: The amount of reactants and products do not have to be
equal. However, after equilibrium is attained, the amounts of reactants and products will be
constant.
5. Catalyst: A catalyst cannot change the equilibrium point, it only speeds up the rate of both
the forward and the reverse reaction.

Activity
1. Why is it necessary for the rates of the forward and reverse reactions to be equal for
equilibrium to be reached?

2. How do the constant concentrations of reactants and products indicate equilibrium?

3. Why is it important for the system to be closed and isolated from external
influences during equilibrium?

Q. Why it is important to study?

Chemical equilibrium plays a crucial role in various physiological and chemical processes.

Let’s discuss its role in our living bodies.

1. Temperature regulation
Dynamic equilibrium helps in temperature regulation inside the body. When body temperature
rises, mechanism such as sweating and vasodilation help dissipate heat, while during cold, shivering
and vasoconstriction help conserve heat.

2. Blood sugar regulation

When sugar level rises, insulin is released to facilitate, when sugar levels are low, glucagon is
released to stimulate release of stored glucose from liver.

3. Environmental Chemistry:

Chemical equilibrium is crucial in understanding environmental processes such as acid-base

reactions in soil and water, the buffering capacity of natural systems, and the equilibrium
between atmospheric gases. This knowledge helps in environmental conservation and
pollution control efforts.

4. Industrial Processes:
Many industrial processes rely on chemical equilibrium for efficient production. Examples
include the Haber process for ammonia synthesis, the contact process for sulfuric acid
production, and the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and polymers. Understanding and
controlling equilibrium conditions are vital for optimizing these processes.

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 5. Household Products:
Chemical equilibrium is involved in the production of various household products such as
detergents, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Manufacturers utilize equilibrium principles to achieve
desired product properties and optimize production efficiency.

Real-world Applications of Chemical Equilibrium

A real-world application of chemical equilibrium is found in the Haber process, which is

used to produce ammonia (NH3) industrially. In this process, nitrogen gas (N2) and
hydrogen gas (H2) are reacted in the presence of an iron catalyst at high temperature and
pressure. The reaction is represented by the equation:

N2(g) + 3H2(g) ⇌ 2NH3(g)

The Haber process operates under conditions of chemical equilibrium. Several key factors
influence the yield of ammonia in this process:

1. Temperature: The forward reaction (formation of ammonia) is exothermic, meaning it

releases heat. According to Le Chatelier's Principle, if the temperature is increased, the
equilibrium will shift in the direction that consumes heat, favoring the reverse reaction.
Therefore, lower temperatures are preferred to maximize the yield of ammonia.
2.
3. Pressure: Increasing the pressure of the system favors the formation of ammonia, as there
are more gas molecules on the reactant side of the equation. Therefore, higher pressures are
used to increase the yield of ammonia.
4.
5. Concentration of Reactants and Products: Since the Haber process involves gases, the
concentration of reactants and products can be manipulated by adjusting the ratio of
nitrogen to hydrogen and by continuously removing ammonia as it is formed. This helps to
drive the equilibrium towards the formation of more ammonia.

The Haber process is essential for the production of ammonia, which is a key component in
the manufacture of fertilizers, explosives, and various other industrial chemicals. By
understanding and optimizing the conditions of chemical equilibrium in this process,
industries can efficiently produce large quantities of ammonia to meet global demand.

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Assessment and Evaluation. (For reinforcement of concepts).
Q. Describe what happens to the rates of forward and reverse reactions at equilibrium.
Q. State the macroscopic characteristics of dynamic equilibrium?
Q. Why at equilibrium state reaction does not stop?
Q. How can you know that reaction has achieved an equilibrium state?
Q. Why equilibrium state is attainable from either way?

References: X FB (KPK) Text Book, X Punjab Text Book,

H.W
Review the notes and materials covered in today's lecture on conditions for chemical equilibrium
and its macroscopic characteristics.
Answer the following questions
Q. Describe, in your own words, why a reversible reaction never completes.
Q. Is it correct to say that the reaction has “stopped” when it has reached equilibrium? Explain your
answer and support it with a specific example.
Q. Reflect on the importance of understanding chemical equilibrium in real-world applications.
Provide one example to support your reflection.

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 Quiz
Topic: Exploring Conditions of Chemical Equilibrium and Macroscopic Characteristics

Choose the best answer for each question.

1. What type of system is required to achieve chemical equilibrium?

a) Open system
b) Closed system
c) Isolated system
d) Dynamic system

2. Which of the following is a requirement for a reversible reaction to reach

equilibrium?
a) High temperature
b) Low pressure
c) Continuous addition of reactants
d) Equal forward and reverse reaction rates

3. At chemical equilibrium, the concentrations of reactants and products:

a) Increase continuously
b) Decrease continuously
c) Remain constant
d) Vary unpredictably

4. What happens to the rate of the forward reaction when a system reaches
equilibrium?
a) It stops completely
b) It becomes faster than the reverse reaction
c) It becomes slower than the reverse reaction
d) It becomes equal to the rate of the reverse reaction

5. Which macroscopic characteristic is observed when a system is at equilibrium?

a) Continuous color changes
b) Continuous temperature changes
c) No observable change in properties
d) Rapid changes in pressure

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