The equilibrium law

1. Definition:

● The equilibrium law states that for a chemical reaction at equilibrium, the ratio
of the product of the concentrations of the products raised to their
stoichiometric coefficients to the product of the concentrations of the
reactants raised to their stoichiometric coefficients is a constant at a given
temperature. This constant is known as the equilibrium constant (Kc).

2. Equilibrium Constant (Kc):

● The equilibrium constant (Kc) is a quantitative measure of the extent to which

a chemical reaction proceeds to form products at equilibrium, based on the
concentrations of reactants and products. It is expressed as the ratio of the
concentrations of the products to the concentrations of the reactants, each
raised to the power of their stoichiometric coefficients.
● The general expression for the equilibrium constant for a reaction:
● For the reaction: aA + bB ⇌ cC + dD

3. Characteristics of Equilibrium Constants:

● Dependence on Temperature: The value of the equilibrium constant (Kc) is

temperature-dependent. Changes in temperature can alter the equilibrium
constant for a reaction, leading to shifts in the equilibrium position.
● Dimensionless: Equilibrium constants are dimensionless quantities since the
concentrations of reactants and products are expressed in moles per liter (M).
Therefore, the equilibrium constant has no units.
● Magnitude of Kc: The magnitude of the equilibrium constant provides
information about the position of equilibrium. A large value of Kc (>1)
indicates that the reaction favors the formation of products at equilibrium,
while a small value of Kc (<1) indicates that the reaction favors the formation
of reactants at equilibrium.

4. Application of the Equilibrium Law:

● The equilibrium law is applied extensively in various areas of chemistry,

including chemical kinetics, industrial processes, environmental chemistry,
and biochemical reactions.
● It allows chemists to predict the direction in which a reaction will proceed to
reach equilibrium under given conditions and to calculate the concentrations
of reactants and products at equilibrium.
5. Limitations of the Equilibrium Law:

● The equilibrium law assumes ideal conditions, such as perfect mixing,

constant temperature, and a closed system. Deviations from these conditions
can affect the accuracy of predictions based on equilibrium constants.
● It applies only to systems at equilibrium, where the rates of the forward and
reverse reactions are equal. Therefore, it does not provide information about
reaction kinetics or the time required to reach equilibrium.