Introduction to Chemical Equilibrium - Complete Interactive Lesson
Part 1: Dynamic Equilibrium
โ๏ธ Dynamic Equilibrium
Part 1 of 7 โ Forward and Reverse Rates
Chemical reactions don't always go to completion. Many reactions are reversible โ the products can react to re-form the reactants. When the forward and reverse reactions occur at the same rate, the system reaches dynamic equilibrium.
โ๏ธ Reversible Reactions
Consider the reaction:
N2โO4โ(g)โ2NO2โ(g)
The forward reaction: NโOโ decomposes into NOโ
The reverse reaction: NOโ molecules recombine to form NโOโ
Initially, only the forward reaction occurs. As products build up, the reverse reaction begins and accelerates. Eventually, both reactions proceed at the same rate.
What "Dynamic" Means
At equilibrium:
Both forward and reverse reactions continue to occur
There is no net change in concentrations
The system is NOT static โ it is constantly reacting in both directions
This is why we call it dynamic equilibrium.
โฑ๏ธ Rates Over Time
Before Equilibrium
Time Period
Forward Rate
Reverse Rate
Net Change
t=0
Maximum
Zero
Products forming rapidly
Early
Decreasing
Increasing
Products still forming
Approaching eq.
Converging
Converging
Slowing net change
At Equilibrium
Concept Check โ Dynamic Equilibrium ๐ฏ
โ๏ธ Conditions for Equilibrium
For a system to reach equilibrium, several conditions must be met:
1. Closed System
The system must be closed โ no matter can enter or leave. (Energy transfer is allowed.)
2. Reversible Reaction
The reaction must be able to proceed in both directions.
3. Constant Temperature
Temperature must remain constant. (Changing temperature shifts the equilibrium position.)
4. Sufficient Time
The system needs time to reach equilibrium. Some reactions reach it in milliseconds; others take days.
Recognizing Equilibrium
You know a system is at equilibrium when:
All macroscopic properties (concentration, pressure, color, pH) remain constant
The system is closed
The reaction is reversible
Equilibrium Conditions ๐
Equilibrium Practice ๐งฎ
Consider the reaction: H2โ(g)+I2โ(g)โ
Exit Quiz โ Dynamic Equilibrium โ
Part 2: Equilibrium Constant (Keq)
โ๏ธ Equilibrium Expressions: Kcโ and Kpโ
Part 2 of 7 โ Writing and Using Equilibrium Constants
The equilibrium constant quantifies the ratio of product concentrations to reactant concentrations at equilibrium. There are two forms: (using molar concentrations) and (using partial pressures for gaseous systems).
Part 3: Writing Equilibrium Expressions
โ๏ธ Heterogeneous Equilibrium
Part 3 of 7 โ Solids and Liquids in Equilibrium Expressions
When the reactants and products are in different phases (solid, liquid, gas, aqueous), the equilibrium is called heterogeneous. The key rule: pure solids and pure liquids are excluded from the equilibrium expression.
๐ค Why Exclude Solids and Liquids?
The equilibrium constant is defined in terms of activities, not concentrations:
For gases: activity โ partial pressure (in atm)
For dissolved species: activity โ molar concentration (in M)
For pure solids and pure liquids: activity = 1 (by definition)
Since pure solids and liquids have an activity of 1, they don't affect the value of K and are left out.
Physical Reasoning
The "concentration" of a pure solid or liquid is its density divided by its molar mass โ this is a constant that doesn't change as the reaction proceeds. Since it doesn't vary, it's absorbed into the equilibrium constant.
Example 1: Decomposition of Calcium Carbonate
Part 4: Kp vs Kc
โ๏ธ Manipulating Equilibrium Constants
Part 4 of 7 โ Reversing, Multiplying, and Adding Reactions
When you modify a chemical equation, the equilibrium constant changes in a predictable way. These rules are essential for combining known K values to find unknown ones.
๐ Rule 1: Reversing a Reaction
If you reverse a reaction, the new K is the reciprocal of the original:
Forward:ย AโBK
Part 5: Heterogeneous Equilibria
โ๏ธ Magnitude of K and Extent of Reaction
Part 5 of 7 โ What K Tells Us About the Reaction
The numerical value of the equilibrium constant tells you how far a reaction proceeds toward products before reaching equilibrium. Understanding the magnitude of K is crucial for predicting whether products or reactants dominate at equilibrium.
๐ Large K: Products Favored
When Kโซ1 (say, K>103):
Part 6: Problem-Solving Workshop
๐งฎ Problem-Solving Workshop
Part 6 of 7 โ Equilibrium Expression and K Calculations
This workshop brings together everything from Parts 1โ5: writing equilibrium expressions, calculating K, manipulating K values, and interpreting results. These multi-step problems mirror AP-level questions.
๐ ๏ธ Problem-Solving Strategy
Steps for Equilibrium Expression Problems
Write the balanced equation
Identify phases โ exclude solids (s) and liquids (l)
Write the K expression: products over reactants with coefficient exponents
Plug in equilibrium values
Check โ does the magnitude of K make sense?
Key Formulas
Formula
When to Use
Part 7: Synthesis & AP Review
๐ Synthesis & AP Review
Part 7 of 7 โ Introduction to Equilibrium
This final part reviews all key concepts: dynamic equilibrium, Kcโ/Kpโ expressions, heterogeneous equilibrium, manipulating K, and the meaning of K's magnitude. These questions mirror AP Chemistry free-response and multiple-choice formats.
๐ Concept Summary
Dynamic Equilibrium
Rateforwardโ
=
Ratereverseโ
Concentrations of reactants and products remain constant (not necessarily equal!)
The ratio [products]/[reactants] stays fixed at a given temperature
Key Misconception
Equilibrium does NOT mean:
The reaction has stopped
Concentrations of reactants and products are equal
Nothing is happening
It means the rates are balanced so there is no net change.
2
HI
(
g
)
At a certain temperature, the following data are collected at equilibrium:
Species
Concentration (M)
Hโ
0.10
Iโ
0.20
HI
0.40
1) What is the rate of the forward reaction compared to the reverse reaction at equilibrium? (Enter "equal")
2) If the forward reaction rate is 2.0ร10โ3 M/s, what is the reverse reaction rate in M/s? (Enter as a decimal, e.g. 0.002)
3) Is the concentration of HI changing at equilibrium? (Enter "no")
Round all answers to 3 significant figures.
Kcโ
Kpโ
โ๏ธ The Equilibrium Constant Kcโ
For the general reaction:
aA+bBโcC+dD
The equilibrium constant expression is:
Kcโ=[A]a[B
Rules for Writing Kcโ
Products go in the numerator, reactants in the denominator
Each concentration is raised to the power of its stoichiometric coefficient
Kcโ uses molar concentrations (mol/L)
Kcโ is dimensionless by convention on the AP exam
Example
N2โ(g)+3H2โ(g)โ
Kcโ=[N2โ
โ๏ธ The Equilibrium Constant Kpโ
For gaseous reactions, we can use partial pressures instead of concentrations:
When you add reactions, the equilibrium expressions multiply (it's algebra โ you're multiplying fractions). Intermediates cancel out.
Example
Reactionย 1:ย N2โ(g)+O2โ(
Reactionย 2:ย 2NO(g)+O2โ(g)โ2
Overall:ย N2โ(g)+2O2โ(g)
Koverallโ=K1โร
Summary Table
Operation
Effect on K
Reverse reaction
Kโฒ=1/K
Multiply by n
Manipulating K โ Concept Quiz ๐ฏ
Manipulating K โ Calculations ๐งฎ
Given: A(g)โ2B(g), Kcโ=25
1) What is Kcโ for 2B(g)โA(g)? (Enter as a decimal)
2) What is Kcโ for 21โA(? (Enter as a whole number)
3) Given also: B(g)โC(g), Kcโ=2.0. What is for ? (Enter as a whole number)
Round all answers to 3 significant figures.
Operation Identification ๐
Exit Quiz โ Manipulating K โ
K=[reactants][products]โโซ1
This means the numerator (products) is much larger than the denominator (reactants).
Interpretation
The reaction lies far to the right
At equilibrium, mostly products are present
The forward reaction is strongly favored
The reaction goes "nearly to completion"
Examples
Reaction
K
Interpretation
2H2โ(g)+O2โ(g)โ2H2โO(g)
โผ1080
Essentially complete
Ag+(aq)+2NH3โ(aq
๐ Small K: Reactants Favored
When Kโช1 (say, K<10โ3):
K=[reactants][products]โโช1
The denominator (reactants) is much larger than the numerator (products).
Interpretation
The reaction lies far to the left
At equilibrium, mostly reactants remain
The forward reaction barely proceeds
Very little product forms
Examples
Reaction
K
Interpretation
N2โ(g)+O
๐ Intermediate K
When Kโ1 (roughly 10โ3<K<103):
Significant amounts of both reactants and products present
Neither side is strongly favored
The equilibrium position is roughly in the middle
Interpreting K Values ๐ฏ
๐ก๏ธ K Depends on Temperature
The equilibrium constant is a function of temperature only.
What Changes K?
Temperature โ the ONLY factor that changes K
What Does NOT Change K?
Changing concentrations
Changing pressure/volume
Adding a catalyst
Adding an inert gas
These factors may shift the equilibrium position (where Q moves relative to K), but K itself remains constant at a given temperature.
Temperature and K Direction
Reaction Type
Increase T
K Changes
Exothermic (ฮH<0)
Shifts left
K decreases
Endothermic (ฮH>0)
Shifts right
K increases
Think of heat as a "reactant" (endothermic) or "product" (exothermic).
K Value Interpretation ๐
K Magnitude Practice ๐งฎ
1) A reaction has K=2.0ร10โ20. Is the reaction product-favored or reactant-favored? (Enter "reactant-favored")
2) For the reaction AโB, K=100 at 300 K. If the reaction is exothermic and temperature increases to 400 K, does K increase or decrease? (Enter "decrease")
3) A catalyst is added to a reaction at equilibrium. Does the value of K change? (Enter "no")
Exit Quiz โ Magnitude of K โ
Kcโ
=
[reactants][products]โ
All K calculations
Kpโ=Kcโ(RT)ฮn
Converting between Kcโ and Kpโ
Reverse: Kโฒ=1/K
Flipping the reaction
Multiply by n: Kโฒ=Kn
Scaling coefficients
Add reactions: K=K1โรK2โ
Combining reactions
๐ข Worked Example 1: Calculating Kcโ
Problem: At 450ยฐC, the equilibrium concentrations for the reaction
H2โ(g)+I2โ(g)โ2HI(g)
are: [H2โ]=0.0050 M, [I2โ]= M, M.
Solution:
Kcโ=[H
Kcโ=2.5ร10โ5
Since K>1, products (HI) are favored at this temperature.
Practice Problem 1 ๐งฎ
For the reaction: PCl5โ(g)โPCl3โ(g)+Cl2โ(g)
At equilibrium: [PCl5โ]=0.20 M, [PCl3โ]= M, M
1) Calculate Kcโ (Enter to 3 significant figures)
2) Is the reaction product-favored or reactant-favored? (Enter "product-favored" or "reactant-favored")
3) What is ฮn for this reaction? (Enter as an integer with sign, e.g. +1)