Chemical Equilibrium: Deep Dive Notes
+ Tough Practice Problems
1. Deep Explanation of Chemical Equilibrium
Chemical equilibrium occurs when the rate of the forward reaction equals the rate of the
reverse reaction in a reversible process.
At equilibrium:
- The concentrations of reactants and products remain constant (but not necessarily equal).
- The system is dynamic – both reactions continue happening.
1.1 Reversible and Irreversible Reactions
- Reversible: Products can react to form reactants again. Shown by ⇌.
- Irreversible: Reaction goes in one direction only, shown by →.
1.2 Conditions for Attaining Equilibrium
- Closed system (no substances can escape).
- Constant temperature and pressure.
- Time must pass to allow equilibrium to be established.
1.3 Characteristics of Chemical Equilibrium
- Dynamic: Forward and reverse reactions occur at the same rate.
- Constant concentration: Reactant and product amounts stay stable.
- Only occurs in closed systems.
1.4 Equilibrium Expression and Constant (Kc)
For a reaction: aA + bB ⇌ cC + dD
The equilibrium constant expression is:
Kc = [C]^c[D]^d / [A]^a[B]^b
- Kc > 1 → products favored
- Kc < 1 → reactants favored
- Kc = 1 → both are balanced
1.5 Le Chatelier's Principle
If a change is made to a system at equilibrium, the system will shift to oppose the change.
Changes and Effects:
- Temperature:
* Increase temp → shift away from heat (endothermic direction).
* Decrease temp → shift toward heat (exothermic direction).
- Pressure (gases only):
* Increase pressure → shift to side with fewer gas molecules.
* Decrease pressure → shift to side with more gas molecules.
- Volume (gases only):
* Decreasing volume increases pressure.
* Increasing volume decreases pressure.
- Concentration:
* Adding reactant → shift right (toward products).
* Removing reactant → shift left (toward reactants).
* Adding product → shift left.
* Removing product → shift right.
- Catalyst: No shift, only speeds up reaching equilibrium.
2. Tough Chemical Equilibrium Worksheet
1. 1. Write the equilibrium constant expression (Kc) for the reaction:
2NO₂(g) ⇌ 2NO(g) + O₂(g)
2. 2. At 400°C, N₂ + 3H₂ ⇌ 2NH₃ has Kc = 0.50. At equilibrium, [N₂] = 0.3 M, [H₂] = 0.2 M.
Find [NH₃].
3. 3. For H₂ + I₂ ⇌ 2HI, if [H₂] = [I₂] = 1.00 M and [HI] = 1.20 M at equilibrium, calculate Kc.
4. 4. In a 1.00 L container: 2SO₂ + O₂ ⇌ 2SO₃. Initially: 2.00 mol SO₂, 1.00 mol O₂. At
equilibrium: 1.60 mol SO₃. Find Kc.
5. 5. CaCO₃(s) ⇌ CaO(s) + CO₂(g): Predict the shift when (a) CO₂ is added (b) pressure
increases (c) CaCO₃ is removed.
6. 6. N₂ + 3H₂ ⇌ 2NH₃ + heat (exothermic): Predict the shift for (a) temp ↑ (b) pressure ↑ (c)
catalyst added (d) NH₃ removed.
7. 7. CH₃COOH ⇌ CH₃COO⁻ + H⁺, Kc = 1.8 × 10⁻⁵. Initial: 0.10 mol in 2L. Use ICE table to
find [CH₃COO⁻] at equilibrium.
8. 8. A 2L flask contains 1 mol of A and 2 mol of B at 600K for the reaction: A + 2B ⇌ C. At
equilibrium, [C] = 0.4 M. Find Kc.
9. 9. For the endothermic reaction: 2H₂O(g) ⇌ 2H₂(g) + O₂(g), how does increasing
temperature and volume affect equilibrium?
10. 10. In a closed system: PCl₅(g) ⇌ PCl₃(g) + Cl₂(g), explain what happens to equilibrium if
(a) Cl₂ is removed, (b) PCl₅ is added.
3. Relationship Between Kp and Kc
For gaseous reactions, equilibrium can be expressed in terms of concentrations (Kc) or
partial pressures (Kp). The relationship between them is:
Kp = Kc(RT)^Δn
Where:
- R = Ideal gas constant (0.0821 L·atm/mol·K)
- T = Temperature in Kelvin
- Δn = (moles of gaseous products) - (moles of gaseous reactants)
Note: Kp is used only for gases. If Δn = 0, then Kp = Kc.
4. Exercises on Kp and Kc with Solutions
1. For the reaction: N2(g) + 3H2(g) ⇌ 2NH3(g), Kc = 0.50 at 400K. Calculate Kp.
Solution: Δn = (2) - (1+3) = -2
Kp = Kc(RT)^Δn = 0.50 × (0.0821×400)^(-2) ≈ 0.50 × (32.84)^(-2) ≈ 0.50 / 1078.46 ≈
4.63×10⁻⁴
2. For the reaction: H2(g) + I2(g) ⇌ 2HI(g), Kc = 50 at 700K. Find Kp.
Solution: Δn = 2 - (1+1) = 0 → Kp = Kc(RT)^0 = Kc = 50
5. Exclusive Kp Exercises with Solutions
1. For the reaction: 2SO₂(g) + O₂(g) ⇌ 2SO₃(g), Kc = 6.0 mol⁻¹·L at 600K. Find Kp.
Δn = 2 - (2+1) = -1
Kp = Kc(RT)^Δn = 6.0 × (0.0821×600)^(-1) = 6.0 / 49.26 ≈ 0.122
2. At 700K, for the reaction: CO(g) + H₂O(g) ⇌ CO₂(g) + H₂(g), Kc = 5. Find Kp.
Δn = (1+1) - (1+1) = 0 → Kp = Kc = 5
6. Solutions to the 10 Tough Questions
11. 1. Write the equilibrium constant expression (Kc) for the reaction: 2NO₂(g) ⇌ 2NO(g) +
O₂(g)
Solution: Kc = [NO]²[O₂] / [NO₂]²
12. 2. At 400°C, N₂ + 3H₂ ⇌ 2NH₃ has Kc = 0.50. At equilibrium, [N₂] = 0.3 M, [H₂] = 0.2 M.
Find [NH₃].
Solution: [NH₃]² = 0.50 × (0.3)(0.2)³ = 0.0006 → [NH₃] = √0.0006 ≈ 0.0245 M
13. 3. For H₂ + I₂ ⇌ 2HI, if [H₂] = [I₂] = 1.00 M and [HI] = 1.20 M at equilibrium, calculate Kc.
Solution: Kc = [HI]² / [H₂][I₂] = (1.20)² / (1)(1) = 1.44
14. 4. In a 1.00 L container: 2SO₂ + O₂ ⇌ 2SO₃. Initially: 2.00 mol SO₂, 1.00 mol O₂. At
equilibrium: 1.60 mol SO₃. Find Kc.
Solution: [SO₃] = 1.60 M, change = +1.60 → [SO₂] = 2.00 - 1.60 = 0.40, [O₂] = 1.00 - 0.80 =
0.20
Kc = [SO₃]² / [SO₂]²[O₂] = (1.60)² / (0.40)²(0.20) = 2.56 / 0.032 = 80
15. 5. CaCO₃(s) ⇌ CaO(s) + CO₂(g): Predict the shift when (a) CO₂ is added (b) pressure
increases (c) CaCO₃ is removed.
Solution: (a) Shift left, (b) Shift left (due to more gas), (c) No shift – solids don’t affect
equilibrium expression
16. 6. N₂ + 3H₂ ⇌ 2NH₃ + heat (exothermic): Predict the shift for (a) temp ↑ (b) pressure ↑ (c)
catalyst added (d) NH₃ removed.
Solution: (a) Shift left, (b) Shift right, (c) No shift, faster equilibrium, (d) Shift right
17. 7. CH₃COOH ⇌ CH₃COO⁻ + H⁺, Kc = 1.8 × 10⁻⁵. Initial: 0.10 mol in 2L. Use ICE table to
find [CH₃COO⁻] at equilibrium.
Solution: CH₃COOH = 0.05 M. Let x = [CH₃COO⁻] = [H⁺].
Kc = x² / (0.05 - x) ≈ x² / 0.05 → x² = 1.8×10⁻⁵ × 0.05 = 9×10⁻⁷ → x = 9.5×10⁻⁴ M
18. 8. A 2L flask contains 1 mol of A and 2 mol of B at 600K for the reaction: A + 2B ⇌ C. At
equilibrium, [C] = 0.4 M. Find Kc.
Solution: [A] = (1 - 0.4)/2 = 0.3, [B] = (2 - 0.8)/2 = 0.6, Kc = [C] / [A][B]² = 0.4 / (0.3)(0.6)² =
0.4 / 0.108 = 3.70
19. 9. For the endothermic reaction: 2H₂O(g) ⇌ 2H₂(g) + O₂(g), how does increasing
temperature and volume affect equilibrium?
Solution: Increasing temperature → shift right (endothermic)
Increasing volume → shift right (more moles)
20. 10. In a closed system: PCl₅(g) ⇌ PCl₃(g) + Cl₂(g), explain what happens to equilibrium if
(a) Cl₂ is removed, (b) PCl₅ is added.
Solution: (a) Shift right to produce more Cl₂, (b) Shift right to use up added PCl₅
