Perspectives in

Biochemistry
darren.gowers@port.ac.uk

Equilibrium
The importance of being balanced in life!
WORKSHOP
 Equilibrium
Overview
Equilibrium
Dynamic equilibrium
Altering equilibrium
Equilibrium constant Keq
 The equilibrium constant
The position of the equilibrium of any chemical
reaction is given by the equilibration constant
Keq (or K)

rate f
A +B C + D
rater
Reactants Products
 The equilibrium constant
Keq
The equilibrium constant can be defined in terms of
concentration of reactants and products at equilibrium.
rate f
A +B C + D
rater
Reactants Products

Keq =
[C] [D] =
Products
Reactants
[A] [B]
Concentrations often expressed as molar concentrations (mM, uM, nM etc.)

Keq has no units

 The equilibrium constant
ratef
A +B C + D
rater Product
Reactants
s

Keq =
[C] [D] =
Products
Reactants
[A] [B]
Keq
Fixed and characteristic of any given reaction at a specified
temperature
Defines the composition of the final equilibrium mixture
regardless of starting amounts of reactants and products. It
is at the dynamic equilibrium.
The equilibrium constant
ratef
A +B C + D
rater
Reactants Products
[C] [D] Products
Keq = =
Reactants
[A] [B]

ratef
aA + bB cC + dD
rater
Reactants Products
[C]c [D]d Products
Keq = =
[A]a [B]b Reactants
 The equilibrium constant
Equilibrium constant r p

Keq <1.0
When the extent of reaction is small there will be more reactants than products at 90 10
equilibrium

Keq=10/90 =0.9
Keq=1
Concentration of products equals that of reactants
50 50

Keq=50/50 =1

Keq >1.0
When the extent of reaction is large there will be more products than reactants at 10 90
equilibrium.

Keq=90/10 =9
 Keq and DG o
DGo >0 (+ve)
Unfavourable, requires energy to occur

DGo =0
At equilibrium, no desire to go in either direction

DGo <0 (-ve)

Favourable, will occur on its own releasing energy

Keq and DG’o are linked

DGo = -RT InKeq’ R gas constant = 8.315 J/mol.K

T absolute temp, Kelvin
 Keq and DG o

<1 + ve
rectants
More

Keq DGo
products
More

- ve
>1
 Keq and DG o

Keq and ΔGo under

standard conditions

when Keq is when ΔGo is reaction proceeds

> 1.0 negative forward, more products

reactants and products

=1.0 zero
equal

<1.0 positive reverse, more reactants

 Keq and DG o

Time for some data analysis!

Work in small groups

- Scientific calculators (no laptops or phones!)

- Tabulating data
- Calculations of ΔG
- Plot neat graph
- Join points with straight lines
- Drawing conclusions
 Equilibrium summary
Chemical equilibrium - dynamic state where forward
and reverse reaction rates are equal.
Equilibrium constant Keq describes the position of
chemical equilibrium:
Keq <1 more reactants
Keq >1 more products
Le Chateliers principle predicts whether reactants or
product will be favoured in response to change.
Equilibrium will move to oppose change.
Keq and DGo are linked.