Equilibrium Chemistry Exa…

Exam questions

Q1. A company manufactures ethanol (C2H5OH).

The reaction for the process is:

C2H4(g) + H2O(g) C2H5OH(g) ΔH = −45 kJ per mole

The temperature and pressure can be changed to increase the yield of ethanol at equilibrium.

(b) (ii) How would increasing the pressure change the yield of ethanol at equilibrium?

Give a reason for your answer.

Increasing the pressure would increase the yield of ethanol because the direction of equilibrium
moves in the direction of the lower number of moles.
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(c) A catalyst is added to increase the rate of the reaction.

Explain how adding a catalyst increases the rate of a chemical reaction.

A catalyst lowers the activation energy so less energy is needed to react.
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Q2. The equation for a reaction to produce hydrogen is:
CO(g) + H2O(g) CO2(g) + H2(g)

(a) Explain why changing the pressure does not affect the yield of hydrogen at equilibrium.
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(c) The temperature used in industry needs to be high enough for the reaction to take place
quickly. Explain, in terms of particles, why the rate of reaction increases when the
temperature is increased.

When temperature is increased, the energy of the particles is increased so the particles
colliding are more frequent. This also increases the rate of reaction as the particles
are moving at a much faster rate and carrying out their reaction more quickly.
(3)
Q3. The reaction of methane with steam is used in industry to make hydrogen.
(a) One of the reactions in this process is represented by this equation.

CH4 (g) + H2 O CO (g) + 3H2 (g)

The forward reaction is endothermic.

State the conditions of temperature and pressure that would give the maximum yield of
hydrogen. Explain your answers.

(i) Temperature

High temperature would mean an endothermic reaction is going to take place as

the reaction takes in energy.
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(ii) Pressure

Low pressure is preferable in a reaction which more molecules are formed.

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