MODULE 15 – CHEMICAL EQUILIBRIUM

NO 2 ( g ) +CO ( g ) → NO ( g )+ CO2 (g)

NO 2 ( g ) +CO ( g ) ← NO ( g )+ CO2 (g)

THE DEFINITION OF CHEMICAL EQUILIBRIUM

Chemical Equilibrium – The point at which both forward and reverse reactions in
a chemical equation have equal reaction rates. When this occurs, the amount of
each substance in the chemical reaction will not change, despite the fact that both
reactions still proceed.

THE EQUILIBRIUM CONSTANT

NO 2 ( g ) +CO ( g ) ↔ NO ( g )+ CO2 (g)

aA +bB ↔ cC+ dD

A, B, C, D – Products
a, b, c, d – Stoichiometric coefficients.
c d
[ C ]eq∗[ D ] eq
K= a b
[ A ] eq∗[ B ]eq

The following reaction:

 N 2 ( g )+ O 2 ( g ) ↔2 NO( g)

Reaches equilibrium when the concentration of N 2 is 0.345 M, the

concentration of O2 is 0.124 M, and the concentration of NO is 4.51 M. What is
the equilibrium constant for this reaction.
2
[ NO ] eq
K= 1 1
[ N 2 ]eq∗[ O2 ]eq

2
[ 4.51 M ]eq
K= 1 1
[ 0.345 M ] eq∗[ 0.124 M ] eq

K=463.3