Chemical Equilibrium

Front

What is chemical equilibrium?

Back

Chemical equilibrium is the state of a system in which the rate of the forward reaction is equal to the rate of the reverse reaction.

Front

What happens to the rates of the forward and reverse reactions at equilibrium?

Back

At equilibrium, the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are equal.

Front

What are the conditions for achieving chemical equilibrium?

Back

1. The system must be closed. 2. Equilibrium is a dynamic process. 3. The rates of the forward and reverse reactions must be equal. 4. The amounts of reactants and products will be constant.

Front

How does the concentration of substances change as a reaction approaches equilibrium?

Back

As a reaction approaches equilibrium, the concentrations of reactants decrease while the concentration of products increases until they become constant.

Front

What is the equilibrium constant (K)?

Back

The equilibrium constant (K) is the ratio of the mathematical product of the concentrations of the products to the mathematical product of the concentrations of the reactants, each raised to the power of its coefficient in the balanced equation.

Front

What does it mean if K is greater than 1?

Back

If K is greater than 1, the products are favored, meaning the concentration of products is greater than that of the reactants.

Front

What does it mean if K is less than 1?

Back

If K is less than 1, the reactants are favored, meaning the concentration of reactants is greater than that of the products.

Front

What is the reaction quotient (Q)?

Back

The reaction quotient (Q) is used to determine if a system is at equilibrium and is calculated in the same way as K.

Front

What does it indicate if Q < K?

Back

If Q < K, the reaction proceeds to the right to form more products.

Front

What does it indicate if Q > K?

Back

If Q > K, the reaction proceeds to the left to form more reactants.