Activity No.

2
Chemical Equilibrium: The Le Chatelier’s Principle

I. Objectives
1. To demonstrate Le Chatelier’s Principle on different equilibrium systems.
2. To predict the direction of reaction when stresses are applied to equilibrium systems.

II. Introduction

A reversible reaction is the type of reaction where a certain chemical process is able to proceed
in a forward or reverse direction depending on experimental conditions. The chemical equation,
which represents this, is written with double arrows as follows:
aA + bB ⇄ cC + dD

In an equation as above, the chemical symbols (capital letters) represent not only moles of the
substances involved in the process but also moles per liter of the substances. The lower case
letters are the stoichiometric coefficients. At equilibrium, the rate of the forward reaction is
equalto the rate of the reverse reaction. The equilibrium constant is expressed as the
concentrations of the products over the concentrations of the reactants.

In a reversible system, the species involved (on both sides of the double arrows) will be at a
dynamic equilibrium with each other, so that a small disturbance of this balance affecting either
side of the equation will involve all the species. The formal way of stating this is called Le
Chatlier’s Principle - If stress is placed on a system at equilibrium, the equilibrium will shift in a
direction in order to overcome the stress. The stress could be a change of concentration of one
or more of the chemical species, change of pressure, change of temperature and etc. Shift means
the direction of change of the concentration of certain species opposing the stress. Examples of
reversible systems at equilibrium are the following:

1. Weak acids or bases

2. Saturated solutions of salts
3. Sparingly soluble salts and hydroxides
4. Complex ion equilibria
5. Gas and heterogeneous equilibria

Strong acids and bases such as hydrochloric acid, nitric acid and sulfuric acids and sodium
hydroxide are strong electrolytes (are 100% ionized) and therefore have no equilibrium. On the
other hand acetic acid and aqueous ammonia solutions are weak electrolytes and therefore there
1
is equilibrium between the concentration of their ions and the concentration of the original parent
molecules.
III. Materials/Equipment
0.1 M K2CrO4 0.1 M Fe(NO3)3 0.1 M NaC2H3O2
6 M HCl 0.1 M KSCN (1) 100-mL beaker
6 M NaOH (5) 10-mL test tube 0.1 M BaCl2
6M HCl 0.1 M CH3COOH (1) 25-mL grad cylinder
1 M NH4Cl satd. NaCl

IV. Procedure
Part I. Ionic Equilibrium: Chromate-Dichromate Equilibrium
The yellow chromate ion will react with the hydrodium ion from an acid to form the orange
dichromate ion according to the following equation. Chromate ion is yellow in solution, while
dichromate ion is orange. Carefully note the difference between these two colors as you do this
part of the experiment.
2CrO42-(aq.) + 2H3O+ (aq)  Cr2O72-(aq.) + 3H2O(l)
Yellow Orange
Add 10 drops of 0.1 M K2CrO4 in a small test tube and then add several drops of the following
reagents to the same test tube one at a time.
a. 6 M HCl b. 6 M NaOH c. 6 M HCl
Using Le Chatelier’s Principle, discuss your observation.

Part II. Ferric Thiocyanate Equilibrium

Complex ions form when certain ions combine with other ions or molecules. The Iron(III) ion
and the thioscyanate ion form a complex ion according to the following equilibrium equation,
Fe3+(aq) + 6SCN-(aq)  Fe(SCN)63-(aq)
Bloody red
Add 5 drops each of 0.1 M Ferric nitrate (Fe(NO3)3 and 0.1 M potassium thiocyanate (KSCN) in
a 100-mL beaker. Add about 50 mL of water. Add more water to this if the solution looks too
dark. Place small but equal quantities of this solution in each of five test tubes, then add the
following
Test Tube 1: 3 mL water
Test Tube 2: 10 drops KSCN
Test Tube 3: 10 drops of Fe(NO3)3
Test Tube: 4 10 drops 0.1 M NaOH
Test Tube: 5 10 drops 0.1 M HCl

Discuss your observations.

Part III. Weak acid/Base Equilibria and the Effect of a Common Ion on the Equilibrium

HC2H3O2  H+ + C2H3O2-

NH3 + H2O  NH4+ + OH-.

1. Place 10 drops of 0.1 M Acetic acid solution in each of two different test tubes. Add one drop
of Methyl orange indicator to each test tube and then add the following:
a. 10 drops of 6 M NaOH to test tube 1.
b. 10 drops of 1 M NaC2H3O2 to test tube 2.
Record your observation.

2. Add 10 drops of a 0.1 M NH3 solution in each of two different test tubes. Add one drop of
phenolphthalein indicator to each of these tubes and then add the following:
a. 10 drops of 6 M HCl to test tube 1
b. 10 drops of 1 M NH4Cl to test tube 2
Record your observation.

Part IV. Saturated Solution Equlibria

1. Place 20 drops of clear saturated NaCl salt solution in a test tube and then add concentrated
HCl drop by drop and observe.

2. Place 10 drops of 0.1 M BaCl2 solution in a test tube. Add a few drops of K2CrO4. Observe.
Now add a 6 M HCl solution drop by drop and observe.
 Activity No. 2
Chemical Equilibrium: The Le Chatelier’s Principle

NAME: DATE PERFORMED: _

YEAR & SECTION: DATE SUBMITTED:

Part I. Ionic Equilibrium: Chromate-Dichromate Equilibrium

Reagent Added Observation Explanation
6 M HCl
6 M NaOH
6 M HCl

Part II. Ferric-Thiocyanate Equilibrium

Reagent Added Observation Explanation
Water
KSCN
Fe(NO3)3
NaOH
HCl

Part III. Weak Acid Equilibria

Reagent Added Observation Explanation
6 M NaOH in Test tube 1
1 M NaC2H3O2 in T- 2
Part III. Weak Base Equilibria

Reagent Added Observation Explanation

6 M HCl in Test tube 1

1 M HCl in Test tube 2

Part IV. Saturated Solution Equilibria

Equilibria
NaCl Equilibrium Reagent Added Observation/Explanation
BaCl2 Equilibrium Reagent Added Observation/Explanation
V. Questions
1. Write the net ionic equations of the four equilibria in the experiment?
a. Chromate-dichromate equilibrium
Equation:
b. Ferric-Thiocyanate Equlibrium:
Equation:
c. Acid-Base Equilibrium
Equation:
d. Saturated Solution Equilibrium
Equation:

2. Given the following equilibrium System:

AgCl(s) < ==== > Ag+ (aq.) + Cl- (aq.) + heat

Predict the effect of the following reagents on the direction of equilibrium

and dissolution ofprecipitate, AgCl.
a. Addition of AgNO3
b. Cool the AgCl solution
c. Addition of NaCl
d. Addition of NaOH
e. Addition of KNO3