EXPERIMENT NO.

9
CHEMICAL EQUILIBRIUM
Apollo Gueco
Paolo Ocampo

FCD4, Group No. 9, Sir Biadomang

March 2013

I.
ABSTRACT
Chemical equilibrium can be characterized by the inability of the involved chemical
reaction to proceed to completion and by the reversible nature of the reaction. This
reversibility is marked by the amount of reactants and products being constant and the rate of
consumption of the reactants being equal to the rate of formation of the products (Engle &
Ilao, 2008).
The significance of chemical equilibrium can be displayed by its role in maintaining
numerous biological and environmental processes (Chemical equilibrium, n.d.).
In the experiment, the shifts in the position of the equilibrium were made possible by
allowing the test tubes to change either in concentration by adding a unique reagent into the
mixture or in temperature by either heating with an alcohol lamp or cooling with an iced water
bath. After treating each test tube, the results were marked by a change in the color of each
solution, which can be either to a lighter color or to a darker color. The change in color was
essential because it indicated that a shift in the equilibrium truly occurred.
II. KEYWORDS: La Chateliers principle, reversible reactions, equilibrium, shift, concentration, temperature
III. INTRODUCTION
A reaction in chemical equilibrium can by
affected by changes in concentration, temperature
and pressure, which can disrupt its equilibrium state.
The reaction responds to these changes by shifting
either backward to the reactant side or forward to the
product side so that its equilibrium state can be
achieved again. The preceding statements are with
accordance to Le Chateliers principle (Engle & Ilao,
2008).
For experimenters to understand chemical
equilibrium in an actual approach was an
importance set by this experiment which was
achieved by establishing its objectives. These were
to evaluate and to explain the effect of these
changes and to interpret the results based on Le
Chateliers Principle (Committee on General
Chemistry, 2012, p. 76).
IV. METHODOLOGY
To initiate the experiment, a solution was
prepared by placing 20 drops of 1 M iron (III) nitrate
[Fe(NO3)3], 20 drops of 1 M potassium thiocyanate
[KCNS] and 7 mL of distilled water into a test tube
and gently shaking that tube. The color of the
mixture after shaking was taken note of.
A portion of the mixture was then obtained by
the use of a dropper. 7 test tubes were filled by

CHEM 14.1, Chemical Equilibrium

placing precisely 10 drops of the obtained mixture

into each of them.
Each of the test tubes was treated by either
adding a unique reagent or performing a common
lab technique. For this experiment, only 2 common
lab techniques were involved which were heating
with an alcohol lamp and cooling with an iced water
bath. The amount of added reagents was the same
for all cases, which was 10 drops. The 1 st test tube
was treated by adding distilled water, the 2 nd by
adding 0.1 M iron (III) nitrate [Fe(NO 3)3], the 3rd by
adding 0.1 M potassium thiocyanate [KCNS], the 4 th
by adding 0.1 M potassium chloride [KCl], the 5th by
adding a pinch of sodium fluoride [NaF], the 6 th by
performing the heating technique and the 7th by
performing the cooling technique. There was
supposed to be another case where a test tube will
be treated by adding 0.1 M silver nitrate [AgNO 3] but
the said reagent was unavailable during the time the
experiment was performed.
After treating the test tubes, the color of the
mixture of each tube was compared to that of the 1 st
tube, which was considered as the reference by
obtaining a portion of each mixture and placing it in a
spot plate. The comparisons were taken note of and
from there, the direction of the shift in the equilibrium
was determined.

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Reagent/
Treatment
0.1 M
Fe(NO3)3
0.1 M
KCNS
0.1 M KCl

Observation

Reaction

Darker color

Dissociation

Direction
of Shift
Forward

Darker color

Dissociation

Forward

Lighter color

Backward

0.1 M
AgNO3

Lighter color

Pinch of
NaF

Lighter color

Increase in
temperatur
e

Lighter color

Decrease in
temperatur
e

Darker color

Dissociation
& complex
formation
Dissociation,
precipitation
& complex
formation
Dissociation
& complex
formation
Release of
heat in the
reactant
side
Absorption
of heat in
the reactant
side

V.
R

comparison of the now different mixtures was made

possible by this step.
The step of evaluating each test tube after the
treatment was represented by the 4th paragraph. By
this step, the qualitative comparison was continued
and the application of the chemical equilibrium
concepts to explain the results was made possible.

Backward

The succeeding explanations of the results will

be supported by the following reaction:
Fe3+ + CNSFeCNS2+

Backward

The increase in concentration of the reactants

brought by the common ion effect was displayed by
the mixtures that were treated separately with 0.1 M
Fe(NO3)3 and 0.1 M KCNS. Before interacting with
the mixture, the 2 reagents being ionic compounds
were turned to ions by the process of dissociation
(Wicks, 2012). The effect of containing substances
that share the same type of ion on a system of
equilibrium is shown by the common ion effect
(UCDavis, n.d.). The concentration of the Fe3+ ion
from the mixture was increased by the same ion that
was present in the added Fe(NO 3)3. In a similar way,
the concentration of the CNS- ion was increased by
the same ion that was present in the added KCNS.
No participation in the equilibrium was done by the
NO3- and K+ ions because they were considered as
spectator ions. The increase in concentration of the
2 cases was clearly observed by the darkening of
the mixtures color. Applying Le Chateliers Principle,
the forward shift of the reactions equilibrium was
caused by the increase in concentration in the
reactants side.

Backward

Forward

ESULTS
The results of the experiment were briefly
presented by the succeeding table.
Table of Results
For the purpose of completion, the supposed
results for the treatment of adding silver nitrate
[AgNO3] were included in the preceding table and
were obtained by the use of reference materials.
These results will also be analyzed as if it were
performed in the succeeding section.
VI. DISCUSSION
Each general step in the procedure was
represented correspondingly by each paragraph in
the Methodology section.
The step of preparing the mixture was
represented by the 1st paragraph. Preparing the
mixture was important because this mixture would
be used throughout the whole experiment. Thus,
without this mixture, the experiment cannot be
performed.
The step of distributing the prepared mixture to
the test tubes was represented by the 2 nd paragraph.
Even a minimal portion of the mixture is sufficient for
results to occur was emphasized by this step.
The step of treating each test tube was
represented by the 3rd paragraph. The qualitative

CHEM 14.1, Chemical Equilibrium

The decrease in concentration of the reactants

brought by the uncommon ion effect was displayed
by the mixtures that were treated separately with 0.1
M KCl, 0.1 M AgNO 3, and a pinch of NaF. As stated
in the preceding paragraph, the 3 reagents being
ionic compounds were turned first to ions by the
process of dissociation before interacting with the
mixture (Wicks, 2012). The uncommon ion effect
was caused by the dissimilarity of the ions of the
added reagents and the ions of the mixture. New
substances were formed by the complex formation
of these dissimilar ions (The uncommon ion effect,
2008). The concentration of the Fe 3+ ion was
decreased by its complex formation with the Cl- ion
and the F- ion separately. FeCl3 and FeF3 were
formed respectively by this process. Similarly, the
concentration of the CNS- ion was decreased by its
complex formation with the Ag+ ion. AgCNS was
formed by this process and by its essence existed as

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a precipitate thus indicating that precipitation also

occurred (Solubility product of silver sulfate, 2003).
No participation in the equilibrium was done by the
K+, NO3- and Na+ ions because they were
considered as spectator ions. The decrease in
concentration of 3 cases was clearly observed by
the lightening of the mixtures color. Applying Le
Chateliers Principle, the backward shift of the
reactions equilibrium was caused by the decrease in
concentration in the reactants side.
The analysis of the results involving change in
temperature was done by treating heat as part of the
reactants. The color of the mixture lightened by
heating it. It can be said then that the equilibrium
performed a backward shift caused by the release or
decrease of heat in the reactant side. In contrast,
the color of the mixture darkened by cooling it. It can
be said then that the equilibrium performed a
forward shift caused by the absorption or increase
of heat in the reactant side.
VII. GUIDE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. Explain your observations on the basis of
Le Chateliers Principle.
On the basis of the Le Chatelier's principle, the
solution being lighter in color indicates that there is
an addition on the product side and to relieve this
condition, the equilibrium will shift towards the iron
(III) and thiocyanate ions or the reactant side. The
solution being darker in color indicates that there is
an addition on the reactant side and to relieve this
condition the equilibrium will shift towards the iron
(III) thiocyanate ions or the product side.
2. Which species (ions) in the added reagents
are effective in altering the state of the
system?
Fe 3+, CNS-, Cl-, Ag3+, and F- are the effective
added ions because they show very observable
change in color.
3. Is the reaction endothermic or exothermic?
Why?
The reaction is exothermic because when the
temperature was increased, the mixture became
lighter in color. This observation implies that heat
has been released in the reactant side causing the
equilibrium to shift towards to that side.
VIII. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The change in the equilibrium state of the given
reaction was brought by change in concentration
and in temperature and was physically shown by the
change in color after a treatment was done on the

CHEM 14.1, Chemical Equilibrium

mixture of a test tube. Explanations for these

changes were supported by Le Chateliers Principle.
Future experimenters can efficiently produce
true
results
by
heeding
the
following
recommendations:
1. Being
more
attentive
to
achieving
consistency when preparing the mixture,
distributing it to test tubes and adding the
reagents
2. Being more assure in the reagents by
double checking them in terms of content,
purity and concentration to the instructor or
appropriate personnel
IX. REFERENCES
Chemical equilibrium. (n.d.). Retrieved March 28,
2013 from http://www.pearsonhighered.com/
mcmurryfay6einfo/downloads/MCMUC13.pdf
Clark, J. (2002). Le Chateliers principle. Retrieved
March 19, 2013 from http://www.chemguide.co.
uk/physical/equilibria/lechatelier.html
Committee on General Chemistry. (2012).
Laboratory manual in general chemistry 1.
Philippines: University of the Philippines Manila.
Engle, H.L. & Ilao, L.V. (2008). Learning modules in
general chemistry. Philippines: University of the
Philippines Manila.
Le Chateliers principle. (n.d.) Retrieved March 19,
2013 from http://www.adichemistry.com/physical
/equilibrium/le-chatelier/le-chatelierprinciple.html
Le Chateliers principle lab. (2013). Retrieved March
19, 2013 from http://chemistrylabsguy.weebly.
com/le-chateliers-principle-lab.html
Olomodosi, A. (2010). Demonstrating Le Chateliers
principle. Retrieved March 19, 2013 from http://
prezi.com/txirlcieyh-m/demonstrating-lechateliers-principle/
Solubility product of silver sulfate. (2003). Retrieved
March 28, 2013 from http://dhs.dist113.org/
faculty/HintonM/website/apchem/lab-02-2.pdf
UCDavis. (n.d.). Common ion effect. Retrieved
March 28, 2013 from http://chemwiki.ucdavis
.edu/ Physical_Chemistry/Physical_ Properties_
of_Matter/Solubilty/Common_Ion_Effect
Wicks, K.M. (2012). Dissociation of ionic compounds
and acids. Retrieved March 28, 2013 from http://
www.chemistrylecturenotes.com/html/
dissociation_of_ionic_compound.html
I hereby certify that I have given substantial
contribution to this report
_______________
Apollo Gueco

________________
Paolo Ocampo

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CHEM 14.1, Chemical Equilibrium

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