Equilibrium

Reversible Reactions

• Many reactions we have studied this year are “forward reactions”, once the reactant
has changed into products it stays that way.
• In reversible reactions, a reaction that can take place backwards or forwards, once a
product is formed it can turn back into a reactant and a continuous cycle occurs.

• Reversible reactions are denoted by a double arrow ↔

• How can we predict when these reactions are “finished”– have reached equilibrium?
Work with your table on questions 1-7
 Equilibrium

• Reversible reactions never come to an end: they just reach equilibrium.

• Equilibrium: the point where there is no further change in concentration of any species
in the reaction.
• Forward and reverse reactions continue to happen, however the moles of any species
in the reaction that are produced or used are equivalent, so the overall quantities of all
reactants and products remain constant.
Talk with a partner: When equilibrium is reached, how do the moles of reactant lost and
product gained in a short period of time compare?
 Work with your table…

• Complete the data table.

• Respond to the 3 questions following the table.
 Reaction Rates &
Le Chatelier’s Principle

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 Describing Reaction Rates

•A rate is a measure of how much something changes within a specified amount of

time.
•In chemistry, the rate of a chemical reaction, or the reaction rate, is usually
expressed as the change in the amount of reactant or product per unit time.
 Describing Reaction Rates
•The figure below illustrates the progress of a typical
reaction. Over time, the amount of reactant decreases and the
amount of product increases.
 Collision Theory
A model called collision theory is used to relate
the properties of particles to the rates of
chemical reactions.

• According to collision theory, atoms, ions, and molecules

can react to form products when they collide if the particles
have enough kinetic energy.
• Particles that do not have enough energy to react bounce
apart unchanged when they collide.
 Describing Reaction Rates

An effective collision of oxygen and An ineffective collision of oxygen and

hydrogen molecules produces water hydrogen molecules produces no reaction;
molecules. the reactants bounce apart unchanged.
 Describing Reaction Rates

•The minimum energy that colliding particles

must have in order to react is called the activation
energy.
•You can think of the activation energy for a
reaction as a barrier that reactants must cross
before products can form.
•Label on your diagram.
 Describing Reaction Rates

• When two reactant particles collide, they may

form an activated complex.

• An activated complex is an unstable

arrangement of atoms that forms for a moment
at the peak of the activation-energy barrier and
is usually short lived.
• Label on your diagram.
•The activation-
energy barrier must
be crossed before
reactants are
converted to
products.
•Remember: An
endothermic reaction
absorbs heat, and an
exothermic reaction
releases heat.
 Talk with your table…

•What factor determines whether a molecular

collision results in a reaction?
Take notes to share with the class.
 Le Chatelier’s principle:
Factors Affecting Reaction Rates
•Le Chatelier’s principle: if a stress is applied to a system in dynamic
equilibrium the system changes in a way that relieves this stress.
•Factors that can affect the rate of a chemical reaction are:
• temperature
•concentration
•particle size
•use of a catalyst
 Factors Affecting Reaction Rates: Temperature
• Usually, raising the temperature speeds up a reaction.
• Lowering the temperature usually slows down a reaction.
• Talk with your partner, why do you think this is true? Take notes to share with the
class.
• At higher temperatures, particles move faster.
• The frequency of collisions increases, therefore more particles have enough kinetic energy to
slip over the activation-energy barrier.

• Thus, an increase in temperature causes products to form faster.

 Factors Affecting Reaction Rates:
Concentration

• The number of particles in a given volume affects the rate at which reactions
occur.
• Talk with your partner, why do you think this is true? Take notes to share with
the class.
• Cramming more particles into a fixed volume increases the concentration of
reactants, and, thus, the frequency of collision.
• Increased collision frequency leads to a higher reaction rate.
 Other Factors Affecting Reaction Rates:
Particle Size
• The total surface area of a solid or liquid reactant affects the rate of a
reaction.
• The smaller the particle size, the greater the surface area is for a given mass
of particles.
• The result of an increase in surface area is an increase in the frequency of
collisions and the reaction rate.
 Other Factors Affecting Reaction Rates:
Catalyst
• A catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of a
reaction without being used up during the reaction.
• Catalysts permit reactions to proceed along a lower
energy path.
• The activation-energy barrier for the catalyzed
reaction is lower than that of the uncatalyzed
reaction.
• On your diagram draw a reaction with a catalyst.
 Question Time!!!!
•Which of the following factors could be increased in order to decrease a
reaction rate?
A. Catalyst concentration
B. Concentration
C. Temperature
D. Particle size
 Question Time!!!!
•What would happen to the reaction rate if additional reactants were
added to the system?
A. Increase
B. Decrease
C. No Change
 Question Time!!!!
•What would happen to the reaction rate if the system was cooled?
A. Increase
B. Decrease
C. No Change
 Question Time!!!!
•What always results in a reaction occurring?
A. Effective Collision
B. Heating the system
C. Adding a catalyst
D. Decreasing the particle size