Note: Equilibrium as a separate topic has mostly been tested in the context of CHEM 1310-level

applications, so not many old exam questions exist that are appropriate for what has been taught
this term. Many good practice problems are available in the end-of-chapter questions of Chapter 14.

1. Why is the thermodynamic equilibrium constant, K, unitless?

a. K is unitless because the units for the concentrations and/or pressures of the products
cancels with the concentrations and/or pressures of the reactants.
b. K is unitless because units are optional in chemistry.
c. K is unitless because it is a function of activities, which are unitless.
d. K is unitless because the difference in the concentration and/or pressures cancel out in the
equilibrium constant.
e. None of the above are true, K always has units consistent with the concentrations and/or
pressures used.

2. Consider the following reaction and its equilibrium constant:

4CuO(s) + CH4 (g) ⇌ CO2 (g) + 4Cu(s) + 2H2 O(g) K = 675
A reaction mixture in a 1.00 L container contains 20.0 g of CuO, 5.45 bar of CH4, 16.6 bar of
CO2, 0.10 g of Cu, and 32.2 bar of H2O. Which of the following statements is TRUE
concerning this system?
a. The system is at equilibrium.
b. The equilibrium constant will increase.
c. The equilibrium constant will decrease.
d. The reaction will shift in the direction of products.
e. The reaction will shift in the direction of reactants.

3. Consider the following reaction at equilibrium. What effect will adding 10.0 g of graphite
have on the system?
CO2 (g) + C(graphite) ⇌ 2CO(g)
a. The equilibrium constant will decrease.
b. The equilibrium constant will increase.
c. The reaction will shift to the left in the direction of reactants.
d. The reaction will shift to the right in the direction of products.
e. No effect will be observed.
4. Given the two reactions shown with their equilibrium constants at a particular temperature:
2 PCl3(g) 2 P(g) + 3 Cl2(g) K1 = 0.0667
PCl3 (g) + Cl2(g) PCl5(g) K2 = 4.0
determine the equilibrium constant for the reaction at the same temperature:
2 P(g) + 5 Cl2(g) 2PCl5(g)
a. 1.1
b. 16
c. 23
d. 60
e. 240

5. Consider the following closed system at dynamic equilibrium at 600 K

C(graphite) + CO2(g) 2 CO(g) ΔrH° = 173.5 kJ
Which one of the following changes will increase amount of gaseous CO in the system?
a. Decrease the temperature of the system
b. Decrease the total pressure of the system by increasing its volume
c. Increase the amount of graphite in the system.
d. Increase the total pressure in the system by adding gaseous argon.
e. Physically shake the system so that the graphite can interact more with the gases.

6. Glauber’s salt, Na2SO4∙10H2O(s), was used in the 17th century as a laxative. Glauber’s salt
losses waters of hydration according to the following equilibrium:
Na2SO4∙10H2O(s) 
→
←
 Na2SO4(s) + 10 H2O(g) K = 4.08×10–25 at 25oC
What is the partial pressure of water at 25oC in a closed container holding a sample of
Glauber’s salt?
a. 3.64×10-3 bar
b. 7.40×10-9 bar
c. 6.39×10-13 bar
d. 4.08×10-25 bar
e. 4.08×10-26 bar

7. Which one of the following expressions is the correct equilibrium constant expression for the
following reaction:
4 CuO(s) + CH4(g) CO2(g) + 4 Cu(s) + 2 H2O(g)
pCH 4 p CH 4 p CO 2 p H2 2O
a. K = b. K = c. K =
pCO2 pH2 2 p H2 2O p H 2 p CH 4
[Cu ] p CO 2 p H2 2O pCO2 pH2 2O
d. K = e. K =
[CuO ] 4 p CH 4 pCuO
8. For the reaction: CH4 (g) + 2 H2O (g) ⇋ CO2 (g) + 4 H2 (g) ∆rHo = 190 kJ.
When a catalyst is added:
a. the equilibrium shifts to the right (products)
b. the equilibrium shifts to the left (reactants)
c. the ∆Hº increases
d. the ∆Hº decreases
e. there is no change in the equilibrium or the ∆Hº

9. The reaction, 2 SO3 (g) ⇋ 2 SO2 (g) + O2 (g) is endothermic. Predict what will happen if
the temperature is increased.
a. The equilibrium constant K will stay the same
b. The equilibrium constant K will increase
c. The system will not reach dynamic equilibrium until the temperature is dropped again.
d. The pressure of the system will decrease.
e. More SO3 (g) will be produced.

10. Consider the equilibrium: H2(g) + I2(g) ⇋ 2 HI(g)

0.100 bar of H2 and 0.100 bar of I2 was added to a sealed and evacuated container. After
equilibrium was established at 550 K, the partial pressure of HI was found to be 0.168 bar.
What is the equilibrium constant for this reaction as written?
Answer Key:

1. c
2. e
3. e
4. e
5. b
6. a
7. c
8. e
9. b
10. 110