Equilibrium constant

We can represent equilibrium

reactions and their state
mathematically using the equilibrium
constant Kc, which is the ratio of
products over reactants. But we
have to take into account the molar
ratios.
The mathematical formula is called
the equilibrium expression

Equilibrium constant
For the reversible reaction:
aA + bB
Equilibrium
constant

cC + dD

Kc = [C]c[D]d

Equilibrium
expression

---------------------------------------------------

[A]a[B]b
All concentrations are in mol L-1
NOTE: Products over reactants
prefixes become powers

Equilibrium Expression
For the reaction
CO(g) + H2O(g) CO2(g) + H2(g)
Kc =

Equilibrium constant
For the reaction
CO(g) + H2O(g) CO2(g) + H2(g)
Kc = [CO2][H2]
-------------------------------------------------------------

[CO][H2O]

Equilibrium constant
For the reaction
N2(g) + 3H2(g) 2NH3(g)
Kc =

Equilibrium constant
For the reaction
N2(g) + 3H2(g) 2NH3(g)
Kc = [NH3]2

-------------------------------------------------------------

[N2][H2]3

Equilibrium Expression
Beginning Chemistry P211
Answer question 2

Effects of change on
equilibrium reactions
Kc, the equilibrium constant, is,
funnily enough, CONSTANT
(N B provided that temperature
is kept constant)
So if any concentration changes
other concentrations must
change to keep Kc constant.

Effects of change on
equilibrium reactions
For the reaction
CH3COOH(aq)

CH3COO-(aq) + H+(aq)

Kc = [CH3COO-][H+]

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[CH3COOH]
So if more CH3COOH is added, what
must change to keep Kc constant?

Effects of change on
equilibrium reactions
For the reaction
CH3COOH(aq)

CH3COO-(aq) + H+(aq)

Kc = [CH3COO-][H+]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[CH3COOH]
The numerator has to get bigger if
the denominator increases

Effects of change on
equilibrium reactions
For the reaction
CH3COOH(aq)

CH3COO-(aq) + H+(aq)

Kc = [CH3COO-][H+]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[CH3COOH]

So CH3COO- and H+ must increase

So the reaction must go to the right.

Effects of change on
equilibrium reactions
For the reaction
CH3COOH(aq)

CH3COO-(aq) + H+(aq)

Kc = [CH3COO-][H+]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[CH3COOH]

What would happen if NaOH solution

was added to the solution?

Effects of change on
equilibrium reactions
For the reaction
CH3COOH(aq)

CH3COO-(aq) + H+(aq)

Kc = [CH3COO-][H+]
[CH3COOH]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

H+ + OH- H2O
So [H+] decreases, so [CH3COOH] must
decrease or [CH3COO-] increase, which
can both happen if the reaction produces
more products.

Using Equilibrium constant

aA + bB

cC + dD

Kc = [C]c[D]d
---------------------------------------------------

[A]a[B]b
Kc tells us whether a reaction favours
reactants or products.

If Kc > 1 products are favoured

If Kc < 1 reactants are favoured

Using Equilibrium constant

E.g.

CO(g) + H2O(g) CO2(g) + H2(g)

Kc = [CO2][H2]
-------------------------------------------------------------

[CO][H2O]

Products or reactants favoured?

Kc = 1.3 x 10-3 at 25 oC
Kc = 1270 at 250 oC

Equilibrium Expression
Beginning Chemistry P211
Answer question 3
Then ESA study guide P228
Q 1b, 1d, 2a, 3, 4a, 5a

PART 2

Calculating Kc
CO(g) + H2O(g) CO2(g) + H2(g)
[CO2] = 2.00 mol L-1 [H2] = 2.00 mol L-1
[CO] = 0.100 mol L-1 [H2O] = 0.100 mol L-1
Kc = [CO2][H2] =
[CO][H2O]
-------------------------------------------------------------

NB Kc has no units

Calculating Kc
CO(g) + H2O(g) CO2(g) + H2(g)
[CO2] = 2.00 mol L-1 [H2] = 2.00 mol L-1
[CO] = 0.100 mol L-1 [H2O] = 0.100 mol L-1
Kc = [CO2][H2] =
---------------------------------------------------------------------

[CO][H2O]

[2.00] [2.00] =

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[0.100] [0.100]

NB Kc has no units

Calculating Kc
CO(g) + H2O(g) CO2(g) + H2(g)
[CO2] = 2.00 mol L-1 [H2] = 2.00 mol L-1
[CO] = 0.100 mol L-1 [H2O] = 0.100 mol L-1
Kc = [CO2][H2] =
---------------------------------------------------------------------

[CO][H2O]

[2.00] [2.00] = 400

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[0.100] [0.100]

NB Kc has no units

Calculating Kc
N2(g) + 3H2(g) 2NH3(g)
Equilibrium at 250 oC:
[NH3] = 0.25 mol L-1
[N2] = 1.00 mol L-1 [H2] = 1.50 mol L-1

Calculating Kc
N2(g) + 3H2(g) 2NH3(g)
Equilibrium at 250 oC:
[NH3] = 0.25 mol L-1
[N2] = 1.00 mol L-1 [H2] = 1.50 mol L-1
Kc =

[NH3]2

-------------------------------------------------------------

[N2][H2]3

Calculating Kc
N2(g) + 3H2(g) 2NH3(g)
[NH3] = 0.25 mol L-1
[N2] = 1.00 mol L-1 [H2] = 1.50 mol L-1
Kc =

[NH3]2 =

-------------------------------------------------------------

[N2][H2]3

[0.25]2
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[1.00] [1.50]3

Calculating Kc
N2(g) + 3H2(g) 2NH3(g)
[NH3] = 0.25 mol L-1

[N2] = 1.00 mol L-1 [H2] = 1.50 mol L-1

Kc =

[NH3]2 =

-------------------------------------------------------------

[N2][H2]3

[0.25]2
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[1.00] [1.50]3

NB Kc has no units

= 0.0185

Final Kc calculation
2H2(g) + CO(g)

CH3OH(g)

Kc is 280 at 25 oC
[CO] = 0.500 mol and [CH3OH] =
0.100 mol
[H2] = ???

Final Kc calculation
[H2] = 0.500 mol, [CO] = 0.500 mol and
[CH3OH] = 0.100 mol and Kc is 280 at 25
oC

Kc = [CH3OH]
[H2]2[CO]
-------------------------------------------------------------

[H2]2 = [CH3OH]
Kc x [CO]
-------------------------------------------------------------

[H2] = [CH3OH]
Kc x [CO]
-------------------------------------------------------------

[H2] = (0.100/(280 x 0.500) = 0.0267 mol L-1

Equilibrium Constant
ESA study guide P229
Q 1, 2a, 3, 4, 5, 7
20 mins
Extra Challenge Q8

More Kc calculations
2H2(g) + CO(g)

CH3OH(g)

Kc is 280
The following three gases are mixed in
a 1L container:
[H2] = 0.500 mol, [CO] = 0.500 mol and
[CH3OH] = 0.100 mol

Justify whether the reaction would

proceed in the forward OR reverse
direction when the gases are
mixed.

More Kc calculations
2H2(g) + CO(g)

CH3OH(g)

Kc is 280
Step 1: Write equilibrium
expression.

More Kc calculations
2H2(g) + CO(g)

CH3OH(g)

Kc is 280
Step 1: Write equilibrium
expression.
Kc = [CH3OH]
-------------------------------------------------------------

[H2]2[CO]

More Kc calculations
2H2(g) + CO(g)

CH3OH(g)

Kc is 280
Step 2: Input conc. equilibrium
expression.
[H2] = 0.500 mol, [CO] = 0.500 mol and
[CH3OH] = 0.100 mol
Kc =

[CH3OH]

-------------------------------------------------------------

[H2]2[CO]

[0.1]
-------------------------------------------------------------

[0.5]2[0.5]

= 0.8

More Kc calculations
2H2(g) + CO(g) CH3OH(g)
Kc is 280
Step 3: Compare with Kc given
Kc =

[CH3OH]

-------------------------------------------------------------

[H2]2[CO]

[0.1]

= 0.8

-------------------------------------------------------------

[0.5]2[0.5]

Kc = 280 > 0.8, therefore reaction will

proceed..

More Kc calculations
2H2(g) + CO(g)

CH3OH(g)

Kc is 280
Step 3: Compare with Kc given
Kc = [CH3OH] =
-------------------------------------------------------------

[H2]2[CO]

[0.1]

= 0.8

-------------------------------------------------------------

[0.5]2[0.5]

Kc = 280 > 0.8, therefore reaction will

proceed..forward to make more CH3OH

More Kc calculations
2H2S(g) + CH4(g)

4H2(g) + CS2(g)

Kc = 1.2 x 103
If the following amounts of each gas
were added to a 1 L flask, will the
reaction go forward or reverse?
Why?
H2S = 0.01 mol; CH4 = 0.05 mol;
H2 = 0.80 mol; CS2 = 0.50 mol

 40960 vs 1200 will go reverse