EQUILIBRIUM

The state of the system in which no further change occurs is called a state of equilibrium.
Equilibrium can be attained for both physical and chemical processes. Equilibrium achieved in
physical processes is called physical equilibrium. The equilibrium achieved in chemical
processes is called chemical equilibrium.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF EQUILIBRIA INVOLVING PHYSICAL

PROCESSES

Refer section 7.1.5 from text book and make a note in the text book.

EQUILIBRIUM IN CHEMICAL PROCESSES

In a chemical reaction, the state of equilibrium can be attained in between the product
and the reactants.
A+B↔C+D
The reaction in which the products do not react under any conditions to give back
reactants are called irreversible reactions.

The reaction in which products under suitable conditions react to give back reactants
are called reversible reactions.

EQUILIBRIUM CONSTANT (Kc)

Consider a reaction A + B ↔ C + D
where A and B are the reactants, C and D are the products in the balanced chemical
equation.
[𝐶 ][𝐷]
Kc= [
𝐴][𝐵]
where Kc is the equilibrium constant and the expression on the right side is called the
equilibrium constant expression.

For a general reaction,

aA+bB↔ cC+dD

Kc = [C]c [D]d / [A]a [B]b

where [A], [B], [C] and [D] are the equilibrium concentrations of the reactants and
products.
1. Write the expression for equilibrium constant for the following reactions
H2(g) + I2 (g) ↔ 2HI
Kc = [HI]2/[H] [I]
2. 4NH3(g) + 5O2(g) ↔ 4NO(g) + 6H2O(g)
 Kc =[NO]4 [H2O]6 / [NH3] 4 [O2] 5

THE LAW OF MASS ACTION

At constant temperature, the rate of a reaction is directly proportional to the product of

molar concentrations of reacting species with each concentration term raised to the
power equal to the numerical coefficient of that species in the chemical equation.

Consider a reaction A +B Product

According to law of mass action,
Rate of the reaction, r α [A] [B]
r = k [A] [B], k is called rate constant
EQUILIBRIUM CONSTANT OF REVERSE REACTION IS THE INVERSE OF
BACKWARD REACTION
For a general reaction,
aA+bB↔ cC+dD

Equilibrium constant for the forward reaction Kc = [C]c [D]d / [A]a [B]b
Equilibrium constant for the backward reaction Kc*= [A]a [B]b / [C]c [D]d

Kc = 1/Kc*

TYPES OF EQUILIBRIA

1. The equilibrium in which all the substances are present in the same phase is
known as homogeneous equilibrium

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

2. The equilibrium in which the substances involved are present in different phase is
known as heterogeneous equilibrium
CaCO3 (s) CaO (s) + CO2 (g)

EQUILIBRIUM EXPRESSION FOR SOME REACTIONS

1. By convention concentration of all pure solids and liquids are taken as unity.
[pure solid] or [pure liquid] =1
𝑁𝑜 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠/𝑀𝑀
=
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒

𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝐷𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦
=
𝑀𝑀 𝑥 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑀𝑀

As density of pure solid or pure liquid is constant at constant temperature and

molecular mass is also constant. Therefore, their molar concentrations are constant
and are independent of the amount of substance.
 CaCO3(s) CaO (s) + CO2 (g)
[CaO(s)][𝐶𝑂2(𝑔)]
K= [CaCO3(s)]

K= [CO2(g)]
2. For the equilibria in aqueous medium, if water is also involved in the
equilibrium, its concentration will not change appreciably because it is present
in a large quantity.

NH3 (aq) + H2O (l) NH4+ (aq) + OH— (aq)

[NH4+(aq)][𝑂𝐻−(𝑎𝑞)]
K=
[NH3(aq)][H2O(𝑙)]

[NH4+(aq)][𝑂𝐻−(𝑎𝑞)]
K=
[NH3(aq)]
**********************************************************************************