EQUILIBRIUM QUESTION SET

1. The Haber process enables the large-scale production of ammonia needed to make
fertilizers.

The equation for the Haber process is given below.

N2(g) + 3H2 2NH3(g)

The percentage of ammonia in the equilibrium mixture varies with temperature.

(i) Use the graph to deduce whether the forward reaction is exothermic or
endothermic and explain your choice.
(2)

(ii) State and explain the effect of increasing the pressure on the yield of ammonia.
(2)

(iii) Explain the effect of increasing the temperature on the rate of reaction.
(2)

2. Consider the following equilibrium.

2SO2(g) + O2(g) 2SO3(g) ΔHo = –198 kJ mol–1

(i) Deduce the equilibrium constant expression, Kc, for the reaction.
(1)

(ii) State and explain the effect of increasing the temperature on the yield of sulfur
trioxide.
(2)

(iii) State the effect of a catalyst on the value of Kc.

(1)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 1
 (iv) State and explain the effect of a catalyst on the position of equilibrium.
(2)

3. An increase in temperature increases the amount of chlorine present in the following

equilibrium.

PCl5(s) PCl3(l) + Cl2(g)

What is the best explanation for this?

A. The higher temperature increases the rate of the forward reaction only.

B. The higher temperature increases the rate of the reverse reaction only.

C. The higher temperature increases the rate of both reactions but the forward
reaction is affected more than the reverse.

D. The higher temperature increases the rate of both reactions but the reverse
reaction is affected more than the forward.

4. The equation for the main reaction in the Haber process is:

N2(g) + 3H2(g) 2NH3(g) ∆H is negative

(i) Determine the equilibrium constant expression for this reaction.

(1)

(ii) State and explain the effect on the equilibrium yield of ammonia with increasing
the pressure and the temperature.
(4)

(iii) In practice, typical conditions used in the Haber process involve a temperature of
500 °C and a pressure of 200 atm. Explain why these conditions are used rather
than those that give the highest yield.
(2)

(iv) At a certain temperature and pressure, 1.1 dm3 of N2(g) reacts with 3.3 dm3 of
H2(g). Calculate the volume of NH3(g), that will be produced.
(1)

(v) Suggest why this reaction is important for humanity.

(1)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 2
 (vi) A chemist claims to have developed a new catalyst for the Haber process, which
increases the yield of ammonia. State the catalyst normally used for the Haber
process, and comment on the claim made by this chemist.
(2)
(Total 11 marks)

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5. The equilibrium between nitrogen dioxide, NO2, and dinitrogen tetroxide, N2O4, is
shown below.

2NO2(g) N2O4(g) Kc = 0.01

What happens when the volume of a mixture at equilibrium is decreased at a constant

temperature?

I. The value of Kc increases

II. More N2O4 is formed

[ NO 2 ]
III. The ratio of [ N 2 O 4 ] decreases

A. I and II only

B. I and III only

C. II and III only

D. I, II and III

6. In carbonated drinks containing dissolved carbon dioxide under high pressure, the
following dynamic equilibrium exists.

CO2(aq) CO2(g)

Describe the effect of opening a carbonated drink container and outline how this
equilibrium is affected.
(Total 2 marks)

7. The diagrams below represent equilibrium mixtures for the reaction Y + X2 XY +

X at 350 K and 550 K respectively. Deduce and explain whether the reaction is
exothermic or endothermic.

IB Questionbank Chemistry 4
 X = 350 K 550 K

Y =
(Total 2 marks)

8. What is the effect of an increase of temperature on the yield and the equilibrium
constant for the following reaction?

2H2(g) + CO(g) CH3OH(l) ∆HO = –128 kJ

Yield Equilibrium
constant
A. Increases Increases
B. Increases Decreases
C. Decreases Increases
D. Decreases Decreases

9. What changes occur when the temperature is increased in the following reaction at
equilibrium?

Br2(g) + Cl2(g) 2BrCl(g) ∆Hο = +14 kJ mol–1

Position of equilibrium Value of equilibrium constant

A. Shifts towards the reactants Decreases
B. Shifts towards the reactants Increases
C. Shifts towards the products Decreases
D. Shifts towards the products Increases

10. Which statement about chemical equilibria implies they are dynamic?

A. The position of equilibrium constantly changes.

B. The rates of forward and backward reactions change.

IB Questionbank Chemistry 5
 C. The reactants and products continue to react.

D. The concentrations of the reactants and products continue to change.

11. Consider the endothermic reaction below.

5CO(g) + I2O5(g) 5CO2(g) + I2(g)

According to Le Chatelier’s principle, which change would result in an increase in the

amount of CO2?

A. Increasing the temperature

B. Decreasing the temperature

C. Increasing the pressure

D. Decreasing the pressure

(Total 1 mark)

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12. The sequence of diagrams represents the system as time passes for a gas phase reaction
in which reactant X is converted to product Y.

D ia g ra m 1 D ia g ra m 2 D ia g ra m D ia g ra m 4
t = 7 seconds t = 5 m in u te s t = 1 0 m in u te s t = 5 days

T im e , t
X =

Y =

Which statement is correct?

A. At t = 5 days the rate of the forward reaction is greater than the rate of the
backward reaction.

B. At t = 7 seconds the reaction has reached completion.

C. At t = 10 minutes the system has reached a state of equilibrium.

D. At t = 5 days the rate of the forward reaction is less than the rate of the backward
reaction.

13. Consider the following equilibrium reaction.

2SO2(g) + O2(g) 2SO3(g) ∆Ho = –197 kJ

Which change in conditions will increase the amount of SO3 present when equilibrium
is re-established?

A. Decreasing the concentration of SO2

B. Increasing the volume

C. Decreasing the temperature

IB Questionbank Chemistry 7
 D. Adding a catalyst
(Total 1 mark)

14. Methanol may be produced by the exothermic reaction of carbon monoxide gas and
hydrogen gas.

CO(g) + 2H2(g) CH3OH(g) ∆HO = –103 kJ

(a) State the equilibrium constant expression, Kc, for the production of methanol.

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(1)

(b) State and explain the effect of changing the following conditions on the amount of
methanol present at equilibrium:

(i) increasing the temperature of the reaction at constant pressure.

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(2)

(ii) increasing the pressure of the reaction at constant temperature.

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(2)

(c) The conditions used in industry during the production of methanol are a
temperature of 450 °C and pressure of up to 220 atm. Explain why these
conditions are used rather than those that could give an even greater amount of
methanol.

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(2)

(d) A catalyst of copper mixed with zinc oxide and alumina is used in industry for this
production of methanol. Explain the function of the catalyst.

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(1)
(Total 8 marks)

15. Which statement is always correct for a chemical reaction at equilibrium?

A. The rate of the forward reaction equals the rate of the reverse reaction.

B. The amounts of reactants and products are equal.

C. The concentration of the reactants and products are constantly changing.

D. The forward reaction occurs to a greater extent than the reverse reaction.

16. What will happen when at a constant temperature, more iodide ions, I–, are added to the
equilibrium below?

I2(s) + I–(aq) I3–(aq)

A. The amount of solid iodine decreases and the equilibrium constant increases.

B. The amount of solid iodine decreases and the equilibrium constant remains
unchanged.

C. The amount of solid iodine increases and the equilibrium constant decreases.

D. The amount of solid iodine increases and the equilibrium constant remains
unchanged.

17. What is the equilibrium constant expression, Kc, for the following reaction?

N2O4(g) 2NO2(g)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 9
 [NO2 ]
A. Kc = [N 2 O 4 ]

[NO 2 ] 2
B. Kc = [N 2 O 4 ]

[NO 2 ]
2
C. Kc = [N 2 O 4 ]

D. Kc = [NO2][N2O4]2

18. The reaction below represents the Haber process for the industrial production of
ammonia.

N2(g) + 3H2(g) 2NH3(g) ∆HO = –92 kJ

The optimum conditions of temperature and pressure are chosen as a compromise

between those that favour a high yield of ammonia and those that favour a fast rate of
production. Economic considerations are also important.

Which statement is correct?

A. A higher temperature would ensure higher yield and a faster rate.

B. A lower pressure would ensure a higher yield at a lower cost.

C. A lower temperature would ensure a higher yield and a faster rate.

D. A higher pressure would ensure a higher yield at a higher cost.

19. What effect will an increase in temperature have on the Kc value and the position of
equilibrium in the following reaction?

N2(g) + 3H2(g) 2NH3(g) ΔH = –92 kJ

Kc Equilibrium
position
A. increases shifts to the right
B. decreases shifts to the left
C. increases shifts to the left
D. decreases shifts to the right

20. Consider the equilibrium between methanol, CH3OH(l), and methanol vapour,
CH3OH(g).

CH3OH(l) CH3OH(g)

What happens to the position of equilibrium and the value of Kc as the temperature
decreases?

IB Questionbank Chemistry 10
 Position of Value of Kc
equilibrium
A. shifts to the left decreases
B. shifts to the left increases
C. shifts to the right decreases
D. shifts to the right increases

21. For the following reaction Kc = 1.0 × 10–5 at 30 °C.

2NOCl(g) 2NO(g) + Cl2(g)

Which relationship is correct at equilibrium at this temperature?

A. The concentration of NO equals the concentration of NOCl.

B. The concentration of NOCl is double the concentration of Cl2.

C. The concentration of NOCl is much greater than the concentration of Cl2.

D. The concentration of NO is much greater than the concentration of NOCl.

22. (i) A state of equilibrium can exist when a piece of copper metal is placed in a
solution of copper(II) sulfate. Outline the characteristics of a chemical system in
dynamic equilibrium.
(2)

(ii) For an exothermic reaction state how an increase in temperature would affect both
Kc and the position of equilibrium.
(2)
(Total 4 marks)
23. An example of a homogeneous reversible reaction is the reaction between hydrogen and
iodine.

IB Questionbank Chemistry 11
 H2(g) + I2(g) 2HI(g)

(i) Outline the characteristics of a homogeneous chemical system that is in a state of

equilibrium.

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(2)

(ii) Deduce the expression for the equilibrium constant, Kc.

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(1)

(iii) Predict what would happen to the position of equilibrium and the value of Kc if
the pressure is increased from 1 atm to 2 atm.

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(2)

(iv) The value of Kc at 500 K is 160 and the value of Kc at 700 K is 54. Deduce what
this information tells us about the enthalpy change of the forward reaction.

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 (1)

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 (v) The reaction can be catalysed by adding platinum metal. State and explain what
effect the addition of platinum would have on the value of the equilibrium
constant.

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(2)
(Total 8 marks)

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