C

IB CHEM SL TOPIC 7

hemical Equilibrium
NOTE CARDS
 Dynamic Equilibrium
 7.1

Consider a reversible reaction

A + B  C + D
 Initially [A] and [B] highest  rate of consumption of A and B highest
 [A], [B] decreases  rate of consumption of A and B (forward
reaction) decreases
 [C], [D] increases  rate of consumption of C and D (backward
reaction) increases
 Dynamic Equilibrium

 At dynamic equilibrium,
(1) rate of forward reaction = rate of backward reaction
(2) concentrations of all the reactants and products remain constant,
even though reactions are still taking place.
* Dynamic equilibrium can ONLY occur in a closed system (no
exchange of energy and matter with outside)
 Dynamic Equilibrium

 Example
Consider the equilibrium
H2 + I2   2HI
 Dynamic Equilibrium
The graph for the concentrations of H2, I2 and HI against time is shown in
the diagram below:
Note:
 rate of increase in [HI] is
greater than rate of decrease in
[H2] and [I2]
 final concentration of [HI] is
twice that of [H2] and [I2]
Because two moles of HI is
formed when one mole of H2
and one mole of I2 is consumed.
 Dynamic Equilibrium
The graph for the reaction rates of the forward and backward reaction
against time is shown below:

Note:
forward rate = backward rate
at equilibrium
 Position of Equilibrium
 7.21 - 7.22

The equilibrium constant (Kc)

Consider a reversible reaction
aA + bB  cC + dD

[C ]c [ D ]d
a b
Equilibrium Constant (Kc) = [ A ] [ B ]
The stoichiometric coefficients (numbers in the balanced equation) are the
powers to which equilibrium concentrations are raised.

Note: Concentrations must be equilirbium concentrations!

 Position of Equilibrium
 Example
For the equilibrium
4NH3 + 5O2   4NO + 6H2O
[ NO ]4 [ H 2 O ]6
Kc= 4 5
[ NH3 ] [O2 ]
(moldm−3 )4 (moldm−3 )6
−3 4 −3 5
=moldm−3
and the unit is (moldm ) (moldm )
Note:
(1) Units of Kc will change depending on the equation.
(2) Solids will not appear in Kc calculation.
 Example
 [CO 2 ]
Kc=
The Kc for the reaction C(s) + O2(g) CO2(g) is [O 2 ] .
Position of Equilibrium

Position of Equilibrium
 Kc = 1  [reactant] = [product]
 Kc >> 1  [product] > [reactant]  Equilibrium shifts to the right.
 Kc << 1  [product] < [reactant]  Equilibrium shifts to the left.
 Kc very large  reaction almost goes to completion.
 Kc very small  reaction hardly takes place
 Le Chatelier’s Principle
 7.23 - 7.24

Le Chatelier’s Principle
The position of equilibrium will alter in such a way as to oppose any
change imposed upon it.
* This definition is not required in the examination.
 Le Chatelier’s Principle

 Changing Concentration.
(1) [reactant] increases or [product] decreases (by removing them) 
equilibrium shifts to the RIGHT.
(2) [reactant] decreases or [product] increases  equilibrium shifts to
the LEFT.
* Kc remains unchanged. (Kc only changes with temp.)
 Le Chatelier’s Principle

 Changing the Pressure of Gases.

Pressure increases  equilibrium shifts to the side with smaller
number of moles of gas.
* Kc remains unchanged.
 Example
2NO2(g)   N2O4(g)
Brown Clear

Increase in pressure will shift the equilibrium to the left as there are
fewer moles of gas molecules on the right.
 Le Chatelier’s Principle

 Changing the Temperature.

(1) For exothermic reactions,
Increase in temp.  equilibrium shifts to the LEFT to absorb the
heat  more reactants than products  Kc decreases

(2) For endothermic reactions,

Increase in temp.  equilibrium shifts to the RIGHT to absorb
heat  more products than reactants  Kc increases
Note: When forward reaction is exothermic, backward reaction is
endothermic and vice versa.
* Kc will change with temperature.
 Example
Consider the reaction
N2(g) + O2(g)  2NO(g)

T / (K) Kc
293 4  10-31
700 5  10-13
1500 1  10-5
Based on the data, decide whether this is an exothermic or
endothermic reaction.
Solution:
Kc increases with temperature.
Equilibrium shifts to the RIGHT with higher temperature in order to
absorb heat
Forward reaction is endothermic.
 Le Chatelier’s Principle

 Adding a Catalyst
(1) no effect on position of equilibrium / Kc increase the rate of the
forward and reverse reactions equally
(2) shorten the time of reaction
 Le Chatelier’s Principle
Summary
Effect on
Effect on position of
Condition Equilibrium
Equilibrium
constant (Kc)
 Reactant  Shift to RIGHT
 Concentration None
 Product  Shift to LEFT
Shift to the side with smaller
 Pressure None
number of moles of gases
Exothermic: shift to LEFT Exothermic: 
Temperature
Endothermic: shift to RIGHT Endothermic: 
None: increase both forward
Catalysts and backward rate to the same None
amount
 Industrial Applications
 7.25

(1) Haber Process

N2(g) + 3H2(g)  2NH3(g) H = -92 kJ mol-1

A. High temperature:
 fast rate because
 particles have more K.E.  chance of successful collision 
 more particles have energy greater than Ea
 low yield because
Temp   equilibrium shifts to the LEFT to absorb heat
 Industrial Applications
B. High Pressure
 fast rate because
Particles are closer to each other  chance of successful
collision 
 higher yield because
There are fewer moles of gas on the right hand side
Pressure   equilibrium shits to the RIGHT to lower the
pressure
 Dangerous: risk of explosion
 Expensive: factories need strong walls to withstand high
pressure / cost of electricity is high to supply a high pressure
 Industrial Applications

C. Catalyst: Fe
Increase the rate by providing an alternative pathway with lower Ea
 Industrial Applications

(2) Contact Process

2SO2(g) + O2(g)  2SO3(g) H = -197 kJ mol-1

Same as above except a catalyst of vanadium (V) oxide (V 2O5) is used

instead. You can try to explain it yourself.