Chapter 6

Section 6.3 Nature of Reactions

 Reversible Reactions:

 Reactions that can change direction

 To signify, we use a double set of arrows
 The reaction favors the direction that produces the
most stable (least likely to change) products
 Equilibrium:

 In a chemical reaction, this is the point at which there

is no change in the amount of reactants and products;
meaning you will never use up all of your reactants,
because the products are always there to form them
 Dynamic Equilibrium

 In a reversible reaction this occurs when opposite

actions are taking place at the same rate; products
occur at the same rate as the reactants
For example, if you are rowing upstream at exactly the
same rate as the downstream current, the boat has
no net movement
Changing Direction/Stressing the
System : Le Châtelier's Principle

LE CHATELIER’S PRINCIPLE: A system will readjust to

reduce the disturbance and regain equilibrium

If we disturb a reaction at equilibrium, we can obtain

more product
Changing Direction/Stressing the
System : Le Châtelier's Principle

This disturbance can be achieved by:

removing the products as they are created,
adding more reactants
adding or removing energy (endo and exo)
Changing Direction/Stressing the
System : Le Châtelier's Principle

(1) Removing a product from a reaction at equilibrium

will allow more reactants to go on and form more
products so that balance is regained (Right)

(2) Adding more reactants to a reaction at equilibrium

means more products must be made (Right)

(3) Adding or removing energy (heat) can move the

reaction direction
 Activation Energy

the amount of energy that the particles of two

substances must have to cause a chemical change to
take place; this amount of energy required varies
depending on the reaction
 Reaction Rate

Speed of Reaction: How can it be changed?

 Reaction Rate

1) Temperature : most reactions will go faster at higher

temps; lowering the temp will slow most reactions
down
2) Concentration : increasing the amount of substance
present in a certain volume will generally increase the
rate of reaction
3) Surface Area : increasing the surface area of the
reactant will increase the rate of reaction
 Reaction Rate

4) Catalyst : a substance that when added to a reaction

can speed up the rate without changing itself; enzymes
are examples of biological catalysts
Inhibitor : a substance that can SLOW a reaction
down; preservatives in food are examples of inhibitors
 Limiting Reactant

the reactant that you run out of first; using it up makes

the reaction stop

Example: If you have 10 wheels and 4 frames, how many

bikes can you build? Only 4…what is your limiting
reactant? The frames. Why? They ran out before the
wheels!
 Limiting Reactant

Example: Use the balanced chemical equation to

answer the question: 2Na + Cl2 → 2NaCl
If you have 12 units of sodium and 8 units of chlorine,
how many units of sodium chloride can you make? Why?
Identify your limiting reactant AND calculate how much
excess reactant you have