Chem Factsheet

September 2001 Number 21

Chemical Equilibria: Kc
To succeed in this topic you need to:- Kc is a ‘concentration term’ so can only be used for solutions and gases.
• understand the concepts of ‘dynamic equilibrium’ and Le Chatalier’s You cannot have concentrations of solids, so these are ignored when writing
Principle (Factsheet 09) the Kc expression.

After working through this Factsheet you will be able to The following examples illustrate the Kc expression for homogeneous and
• understand the concept of ‘Kc’ and write its mathematical expression heterogeneous equilibria:
from the balanced chemical equation.
• work out the units of Kc
• perform calculations using the Kc expression Example 1: 2SO2(g) + O2(g) ž 2SO3(g)

(a homogeneous reaction i.e. all species in the same phase)

What is Kc ?
The ‘c’ in Kc stands for ‘concentration’ and it is always expressed in [SO3]eq2
Kc = units = mol-1dm3
mol dm-3 (moles/litre = moles/dm3). To show this square brackets,[ ], are [SO2]2eq × [O2]eq
used around the species involved.
Example 2: CaCO3(s) ž CaO(s) + CO2(g)
Kc is a constant numerical value for any equilibrium reaction but is always
quoted at a particular temperature. This is because only temperature (a heterogeneous reaction i.e. the species are in different phases)
affects the value of Kc . In other words, you can add or remove reactants
and products, change the pressure of the system or add a catalyst and the Kc = [CO2]eq units = mol dm-3
position of equilibrium will change (according to Le Chatalier’s Principle)
to keep Kc a constant value. (NB. CaCO3 and CaO are solids)

Exam hint:- The concept of Kc, and its mathematical treatment, is a

Exam hint:- What affects the Kc value is invariably tested in questions! fundamental part of the A2 course. Questions commonly try to ‘catch
out’ candidates by including equations of heterogeneous reactions
i.e. state symbols for solids and liquids which do not appear on Kc
Writing Kc expressions expressions.
Look at the example below:
wA+xB ž yC+zD Question 1 at the end of this Factsheet provides further practice on writing
Kc expressions and working out the units of Kc
[C]eq × [D]eq
y z

Kc =
[A]eqw × [B]eqx
Working with powers
The example illustrates the rules for writing Kc expressions: To work with powers, you need to know these rules:

Rules
• If something doesn't have a power, it means the power is 1
1. ‘Products over ‘reactants’ (right-hand side on top) e.g. mol = mol1
2. Numbers in front become powers • If you have a power in the bottom of a fraction, you can bring it to the
3. ‘+’ becomes’×’ top by changing the sign
e.g. 1/mol2 = mol-2 1/dm-3 = dm3
Another example: • Anything to the power 0 is 1
N2(g) + 3H2(g) ž 2NH3(g) e.g. mol0 = 1
• Multiply the numbers ⇒ add the powers
[NH3]2eq
Kc = e.g. dm-3 × dm-3 = dm-3 + -3 = dm-6
[N2]eq × [H2]3eq
• Divide the numbers ⇒ subtract the powers
Every Kc has its own unit and this must be worked out every time (see box e.g. mol2/mol3 = mol2 − 3 = mol-1
on working with powers). For the example above: • To find a power of a power, multiply the powers
-3 2
(mol dm ) -3 2
(mol dm ) e.g. (dm-3)2 = dm-3× 2 = dm-6
Kc = =
(mol dm-3) × mol dm-3)3 (mol dm-3)4 When simplifying an expression, it is usually easiest to work in this order:

1 1. Work out any powers eg (mol dm-3)2 = mol2dm-6

= = (mol dm-3)-2 = mol-2dm6
(mol dm-3)2 2. Simplify the whole of the top of the fraction, and the whole of the
bottom of the fraction eg moldm-3×moldm-3= mol1+1dm-3 +-3= mol2dm-6
Sometimes the expression cancels down to ‘1’ i.e. ‘no units’. You must 3. Divide the top of the fraction by the bottom, (i.e subtract powers)
write ‘no units’ in these cases or the examiner will assume you have e.g. (mol dm-3)/(mol2dm-6) = mol1−2dm-3 − -6 = mol-1dm3
not tried to work out the units.

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Chemical Equilibria : Kc Chem Factsheet

Kc values and the effect of temperature Method 2

Since Kc is a number, its value tells you the about position of equilibrium. You need to work out the amounts at equilibrium first, then find Kc. This
is the most common type of question! The method is outlined below:
1. Low Kc value e.g. Kc = 2.4 × 10-1
[products] 1. Write out the equation
Since Kc =
[reactants] 2. Put the starting amounts under the equation
there must be more reactants than products so the equilibrium lies to 3. Put the equilibrium amount(s) from the question under the starting
the left amounts
4. Use the information from the equation to calculate the ‘missing’
2. High Kc value e.g. Kc = 36.7 equilibrium amount(s), and find the concentrations
5. Write the Kc expression
[products] 6. Substitute the equilibrium amounts (using concentrations)
Since Kc =
[reactants] 7. Calculate the Kc value and its units.
there must be more products than reactants so the equilibrium lies to
the right.
Example 1.
How the Kc value is changed by changes in temperature depends on whether This problem refers to the equilibrium : A(g) + B(g) ž C(g)
the forward reaction is exothermic or endothermic:
0.50 mol of A and 0.40 mol of B were mixed in a 10 dm3 container. At
e.g. N2 (g) + 3H2(g) ž 2NH3(g) !H = -92kJmol
-1
equilibrium there were 0.2 mol of A. What is the value of Kc?

The forward reaction is exothermic so if the temperature is raised the 1. A + B ž C equation

equilibrium moves to the left (Le Chatalier’s) i.e. more reactants, so the Kc
value gets less. The reverse is true if the temperature is reduced the 2. 0.50 0.40 - starting amounts
equilibrium moves to the right producing more products, so the Kc value 3. 0.20 ? ? equilibrium amounts
increases.
4. If only 0.20 mol of A remains then 0.30 mol has converted to C.
The same logic applies to endothermic reactions. Since A:B:C is 1:1:1 then 0.30 mol of B must also convert to C.
Question (2) at the end of this Factsheet provides practice on working out So 0.30 mol of C is produced, and 0.1 mol of B remains.
the effect of temperature on Kc values So we have
A + B ž C
Kc calculations 0.20 0.10 0.30
There are two general types of calculations using the Kc expression:
1. finding the value of Kc given the amounts of species present, Now find the concentrations by dividing by the volume (10dm3):
2. finding the concentrations of species given the Kc value. A: 0.020 B: 0.010 C: 0.030
[C]eq
5. Kc =
Finding the value of Kc [A]eq × [B]eq
Method 1
You are provided with the equilibrium amounts in the question. 0.030
6. Kc = 0.020 × 0.010
Example 1.
7. Kc = 150 mol-1 dm3
This question refers to the following system in equilibrium:

2A(g) + B(g) ž 2C (g)

Example 2.
At equilibrium there were found to be 3 × 10-3 mol of A, 2 × 10-3 mol of This problem refers to the equilibrium 2R(g) ž S(g) + T(g)
B and 6.2 × 10-3 mol of C with a total volume of 2 dm3
2 mol of R was allowed to decompose into S and T until equilibrium was
reached. At equilibrium there was 0.5 mol of S and the total volume was 2 dm3
1. Write the Kc expression:
[C]eq2 Answer 1. 2R ž S + T
Kc =
[A]2eq[B]eq 2. start 2 - -
3. eqm ? 0.5 ?
2. Substitute the values in
2 4. Since S : T is 1 : 1, we must have 0.5 moles of T at equilibrium.
 6.2 × 10 −3  Since R : S is 2 : 1, we need 1 mole of R to make 0.5 moles of S
 2 
Kc =
2
So there is 1 mole of R left
 3 × 10 − 3  ×  2 × 10 − 3 
 2   2  2R ž S + T
eqm 1 0.5 0.5
NB. [ ] = mol dm-3, hence the need to use the 2dm3 from the question
to obtain ‘per 1dm3’. 5. Kc = [S]eq × [T]eq
[R]eq2
3. Calculate the answer and units Kc = 4.27 × 103 mol-1 dm3
6,7 Kc = 0.5× 0.5/1= 0.25 (no units)

This type of calculation is fairly straightforward as long as the Kc expression

is written correctly and the conversion using the volume is remembered. Question (3) and (4) at the end of this Factsheet provides further practice
on finding Kc .

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Chemical Equilibria : Kc Chem Factsheet

Finding equilibrium concentrations from Kc values Exam Hint:- You will never have to solve a quadratic equation using
This type of calculation involves being given the value of Kc and some data the quadratic equation formula. If you ever find yourself with such an
about the concentrations of the species in the equilibrium reaction. equation, you have made a mistake!

Method 1 Practice Questions

You are provided with the K c value and some of the equilibrium 1. For each of the following equilibrium reactions write the Kc expression
concentrations and calculate the units:
Example (a) 2NH3(g) ž N2(g) + 3H2(g)
This question refers to the following equilibrium system: (b) 2SO2(g) + O2(g) ž 2SO3(g)
N2O4(g) ž 2NO2(g) (c) C(s) + O2(g) ž CO2(g)
At 250 C, the Kc value is 13.7 mol dm-3, and in the equilibrium mixture
o (d) N2O4(g) ž 2NO2(g)
there is 0.4 mol dm-3 of N2O4. Calculate the concentration of NO2 in the (e) 2HI(g) ž H2(g) + I2(g)
equilibrium mixture. (f) MgCO3(s) ž MgO(s) + CO2(g)
(g) C2H5OH(l) + CH3COOH(l) ž CH3COOC2H5(l) + H2O(l)
1. Write the Kc expression 2. (a) The reaction: 2A(g) ž B(g) + C(g)
[NO2]eq2 has Kc = 2.67 × 10-2 at 350 K.
Kc = When heated to 450K the Kc value changes to 0.98.
[N2O 4]eq
What can be deduced about the equilibrium from this information?
2. Substitute the values from the question into the equation
[NO 2]eq2 (b) The question is about the reaction,
13.7 =
0.4 X(g) ž 2Y(g) ∆H = -15 kJ mol-1
-3
3. Calculate the answer, including the units The Kc value is 7.4 mol dm at 300K.
[NO2]eq2 = 0.4 × 13.7 = 5.48 If the temperature is increased how do the following change?
[NO2] = √5.48 = 2.34 mol dm-3 (i) The value of Kc
(ii) The rate of reaction
Method 2 3. Calculate the value of Kc for each of the following and its units
You are provided with the Kc value and the starting amount of a species. (a) For the reaction: 2HI (g) ž H2(g) + I2(g)
At equilibrium there are 1.8 × 10-2 mol dm-3 of hydrogen iodide and the
Example hydrogen and iodine are both at a concentration of 3.2 × 10-3 mol dm-3.
For the following equilibrium system, Kc = 0.1
(b) At the equilibrium position for the reaction,
X(g) ž Y(g)
W(g) ž X(g) + Y(g)
If 10 moles of X were allowed to reach equilibrium, how many moles of the amounts of W, X & Y are 0.25 moles, 0.01 moles of 0.17 moles
Y would there be in the equilibrium mixture? respectively. The total volume is 1.2 dm3.
1. Set the equilibrium amount of a product to be x. Work out the
(c) When equilibrium is reached for the reaction,
equilibrium amounts of all the other substances in terms of x.
2NH3(g) ž N2(g) + 3H2(g)
If x moles of Y are produced, then x moles of X must be used up. There are 0.020 mol NH3, 0.015 mol N2 and 0.050 mol H2
So we have: in a total volume of 750cm3.
X(g) ž Y(g)
start 10 0 4. For each of the following calculate the Kc value and give its units:
eqm 10 −x x (a) This question is about the reaction: N2O4 (g) ž 2NO2(g)
0.4 moles of N2O4 is allowed to decompose. At equilibrium there
2. Convert to concentrations is found to be 0.1 mole of N2O4 in the 0.5 dm3 gaseous mixture.
Since we do not know the volume, call it V. (b) In the reaction: 2SO2(g) + O2(g) ž 2SO3(g)
So: [X] = (10 − x)/V 2 mol SO2 and 2 mol O2 react together until the equilibrium position
[Y]= x/V is reached. In a total volume of 10 dm3 there is found to be 1 mole
of SO3.
3. Write the Kc expresion and substitute in:
[Y]eq (c) When 1 × 10-2 mol ethanoic acid reacts with 2 × 10-2 mol ethanol
Kc = according to the equation,
[X]eq
CH3COOH(l) + C2H5OH(l) ž CH3COOC2H5(l) + H2O(l)
x/V
0.1 = there is found to be 5 × 10-3 moles of water in the equilibrium
(10 − x)/V mixture.
4. Rearrange the equation to find x
(d) When 0.4 mol M is mixed with 0.4 mol N they react together
x
First cancel the Vs: 0.1 = according to the following equation : 2M(g) + N(g) ž 4P(g)
(10 − x) In a total volume of 2 dm3 there is found to be 0.3 mol.
Then multiply up: 0.1(10 − x) =x (e) This question is about the equilibrium : C(s) + O2(g) ž CO2 (g)
Expand brackets: 1 − 0.1x =x 1 × 10-2 mol oxygen reacts with carbon and the system reaches the
Rearrange to find x: 1 = 1.1x equilibrium position. In the total volume of 200 cm3 there are 7.5 × 10-3
x = 1/1.1 = 0.91 moles moles of carbon dioxide.

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Chemical Equilibria : Kc Chem Factsheet

5. (a) Kc is 15.6 mol-1 dm3 at 370oC for the system 4. (a) 1.8 mol dm-3 ([N2O4]eq = 0.05, [NO2]eq = 0.3)
PCl3(g) + Cl2(g) ž PCl5(g) (b) 6.67 mol- dm3 ([SO2]eq = 0.1, [O2]eq = 0.15, [SO3]eq = 0.1)
At equilibrium, the concentration of PCl5 is 0.6 mol dm-3. What are (c) 0.33 no units (Kc = (0.5 × 10-2)2 / (0.5 × 10-2 × 1.5 × 10-2)
the concentrations of the PCl3 and Cl2 if there were equimolar
(d) 0.025 mol dm-3 ([M]eq = 0.15, [N]eq = 0.175, [P]eq = 0.1)
amounts of each at the start?
(e) 3.00 no units C is a solid so does not appear to Kc express.
(b) For the equilibrium system
([O2]eq = 1.25 × 10-2, [CO2]eq = 3.75 × 10-2)
A(g) ž 2B(g)

Kc = 0.02 mol dm-3 at 170o C. 0.6

5. (a) 15.6 =
At equilibriu,m the concentration of B is 0.12 mol dm-3. x2
What is the equilibrium conentration of A?
15.6x2 = 0.6
x2 = 0.6/15.6 = 0.03846
(c) Kc is 0.88 at 200oC for the system
x = √0.03846 = 0.196 moles
R(g) ž S(g) 0.122
(b) 0.02 =
If there were 2 moles of R at the start, how many moles of R would A
there be at equilibrium? 0.02A = 0.122
A = 0.122/0.02 = 0.72 moles
(d) For the system
x
(c) 0.88 =
F(g) + G(g) ž H(g) + J(g) 2−x
Kc = 1 at 120oC 0.88 (2 − x) = x
Six moles of F and six moles of G were used at the start. How 1.76 - 0.88x = x
many moles of J will there be at equilibrium? 1.76 = 1.88x
x = 1.76/1.88 = 0.936 moles
Answers
3 (d) At equilibrium, we have x moles of J and H
[N2]eq × [H2]eq 2 -6 and 6 − x moles of F and G
1. (a) Kc = mol dm
[NH3]eq2
x2
1 = (6 − x)(6 − x)
2
[SO3]eq
(b) Kc = mol-1dm3 (6 − x)(6 − x) = x2
[SO2]eq2 × [O2]e
q
36 − 12x + x2 = x2
36 = 12x
[CO2]eq x = 3 moles
(c) Kc = (C(s)!!) No units
[O2]eq

[NO2]eq2
(d) Kc = mol dm-3
[N2O4]eq

[H2]eq × [I2]eq
(e) Kc = No units
[HI]eq2

(f) Kc = [CO2]eq (solids!!) mol dm-3

[CH3COOC2H5]eq × [H2O]eq
(g) Kc = No units
[C2H5OH]eq × [CH3COOH]eq

2. (a) the forward reaction is endothermic

(b) (i) Decreases/gets less

(ii) Increases

3. (a) 3.16 × 10-2 no units

(b) 5.67 × 10-3 mol dm-3 Acknowledgements: This Factsheet was researched and written by Sam
(c) 8.2 × 10-3 mol2dm-6 Goodman. Curriculum Press, Unit 305B, The Big Peg, 120 Vyse Street,
Birmingham, B18 6NF. ChemistryFactsheets may be copied free of charge by
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