Name: …………………………………… General Chemistry II

Homework #4 Key
1. For each of the following equilibria, write the equilibrium constant expression for Kc. Where
appropriate, write the equilibrium constant expression for Kp.
[ H 2O]3 [ PH 2 O ]3
a. WO3(s) + 3 H2(g) W(s) + 3 H2O(g)  Kc  ; K p   Kc
[ H 2 ]3 [ PH 2 ]3
1
b. Ag+(aq) + Cl-(aq) AgCl(s)  K c  
[ Ag ][Cl  ]
[𝐻𝐶𝑙]6 [𝑃 ]6
c. 2FeCl3(s) + 3H2O(g) Fe2O3(s) + 6HCl(g)  𝐾𝐶 = [𝐻 ; 𝐾𝑃 = [𝑃 𝐻𝐶𝑙 ]3 = 𝐾𝐶 (𝑅𝑇)3
2 𝑂]3 𝐻2 𝑂

d. MgCO3(s) MgO(s) + CO2(g)  KC  [CO2 ]; K p  PCO2  Kc ( RT )

2. The air pollutant NO is produced in automobile engines from the high-temperature reaction:
N2 (g) + O2(g) 2 NO(g) KC = 1.7 × 10-3 at 2300 K
If the initial concentrations of N2 and O2 at 2300 K are both 2.24 M N2 and 0.56 M O2, what are the
concentrations of NO, N2, O2 when the reaction mixture reaches equilibrium?
N2 (g) + O2(g) 2 NO(g)
Co (M) 2.24 0.56 0
React x x +2x
[Equi.] (2.24-x) (0.56-x) 2x
(2 x) 2 (2 x) 2
 Kc   1.7  103  (assume x<< 0.56)
(2.24  x)(0.56  x) (2.24)(0.56)
 x  0.0230 M  [N2] = 2.22 M;
[O2] = 0.54 M;
[NO] = 0.04 M
(since 0.023/0.56 = 0.04 < 5%, the assumption is justified)
3. The equilibrium constant for the reaction

is Kc = 9.110-6 at 298 K.
a. What is Go at this temperature?
b. If standard-state concentrations of the reactants and products are mixed, in which direction does
the reaction proceed?
c. Calculate G when [Fe3+] = 0.20 M, [Hg22+] = 0.010 M, [Fe2+] = 0.010 M, and [Hg2+] = 0.025 M.
In which direction will the reaction proceed to achieve equilibrium?
a. The equilibrium constant K is related to ∆Go through the equation:
∆Go = -RT lnK = -(8.314/mol∙K)(298 K) ln(9.1x10-6) = 2.876 x 104 J/mol
b. Since ∆Go is positive, the reaction direction as written is nonspontaneous; therefore, the reaction
proceeds to the left.
c. The value for Q is used to find ∆G:

Because ∆G>0 and Q>K, the reaction proceeds to the left to reach equilibrium.
Name: …………………………………… General Chemistry II
4. What will happen to the number of moles of SO3 in equilibrium with SO2 and O2 in the reaction
2SO3(g) 2SO2(g) + O2(g) ΔHo = 197 kJ
in each of the following cases? Justify your answer.
a. Oxygen gas is added.
The moles of SO3 will increase because the reaction will shift left to use up the added O2(g).
b. The pressure is increased by decreasing the volume of the reaction container.
Increase; because there are fewer reactant gas molecules than product gas molecules, the reaction
shifts left with a decrease in volume. 

c. The pressure is increased by adding argon gas.
No effect; the partial pressures of sulfur trioxide, sulfur dioxide, and oxygen are unchanged, so the
reaction is still at equilibrium. 

d. The temperature is decreased.
Increase; decreasing T will remove heat, shifting this endothermic reaction to the left to add heat.
e. Gaseous sulfur dioxide is removed.
Decrease; the reaction will shift right to produce SO2.