Chemistry 202 Worksheet –Equilibrium Worksheet

Name: ______________________________ Grade: _______

Key concepts

1. Equilibrium is the state at which the concentrations of the reactants and products remain constant
over time. Equilibrium is often defined in terms of Kc or Kp, the equilibrium constants in terms of
concentration or partial pressure, respectively. For aA + bB  cC + dD:
c d
[C ]c [ D ] d PC PD
Kc = Kp =
[ A] a [ B ]b a
PA PB
b

The two constants are related to each other for a given reaction by: Kp = Kc(RT)n. (Use R = 0.0821 L
atm/mol K.)

2. All equilibrium reactions want to remain in equilibrium. According to Le Châtelier’s Principle, any
thing we do to the reaction that disrupts the equilibrium, will cause the reaction to try and minimize
the change:
 Adding more reactant or product, will shift the equilibrium to reduce it.
 Taking away reactant or product, will shift the equilibrium to replace it.
 Treat heat as if it was a product (for exothermic reactions) or a reactant (for endothermic
reactions) when increasing or decreasing the temperature.
 Increasing pressure (by decreasing volume) will shift the equilibrium to the side of the reaction
with the least number of moles of gas. [Decreasing pressure will have the opposite affect, the
reaction shifts to the side with the most moles of gas.]

Solve the following problems.

1. Consider a simple reaction: A (g)  B (g)

Where rateforward = kf[A] and ratereverse = kr[B]

Set Trial [A]o [B]o kf kr [A] [B]

M 1 100 0 0.20 0.40 67 33
2 50 50 0.20 0.40 67 33
N 1 200 0 0.60 0.20 50 150
2 50 150 0.60 0.20 50 150
O 1 100 0 0.50 0.50 50 50

P 1 80 20 0.20 0.60 75 24
2 59 41 0.20 0.60 75 24

a. What is the distinction between [A]o and [A] in the column heading?

b. For Trial M2, calculate the rate of the forward reaction (A B) at equilibrium and the
rate of the reverse reaction (BA) at equilibrium. How do these values compare?

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 c. For Trial P2, calculate the rate of the forward reaction (A B) at equilibrium and the
rate of the reverse reaction (BA) at equilibrium. How do these values compare?

d. Examine the table above:

i. If kf < kr, what are the relative values of the equilibrium concentrations of A and
B? Explain.

ii. If kf > kr, what are the relative values of the equilibrium concentrations of A and
B? Explain.

e. In general, how does the rate of the forward reaction (AB) at equilibrium compare to
the rate of the reverse reaction (BA) at equilibrium?

[ B]
f. Show that is a constant.
[ A]

2. Write the equilibrium constant for the expression for each of the following:
a. Xe (g) + 2F2 (g)  XeF4 (g)

b. CH4 (g) + 2 O2 (g)  CO2(g) + 2 H2O (l)

c. Ag2CO3 (s)  2 Ag+ (aq) + CO32- (aq)

3. How are Kc and Kp related for the following reactions at a certain temperature T?
a. 2NOCl (g)  2 NO (g) + Cl2 (g)

b. N2 (g) + 3 H2 (g)  2 NH3 (g)

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 4. Given the equilibrium concentrations of SO2 (g), O2 (g), and SO3 (g) at 325 K

[SO2] = 0.0024 mol/L [O2] = 0.000012 mol/L [SO3] = 0.060 mol/L

a. Evaluate Kc and Kp at 325 K for the reaction 2SO2 (g) + O2 (g)  2 SO3 (g)

b. Do the same for the reaction 2SO3 (g)  2 SO2 (g) + O2 (g) at 325 K

c. How are the two Kc values from a) and b) related?

5. Consider the equation H2 (g) + I2 (g)  2 HI (g) Kc = 54.3 at 698 K

If a chemist started with 0.050 mol H2, 0.060 mol I2, and 1.12 mol HI, and mixed the gases in a
4.50 L flask at 698 K, from which way (reactant or product side) would the reaction approach
equilibrium?

6. For the following reaction in a 10.0 L reaction vessel at some temperature:

N2 (g) + 2H2 (g)  N2H4 (g)

Kc = 5.0 x 10-3 at this temperature.

Complete the following table:

N2 H2 N2H4
Initial moles 1.00 1.50 0
Change in moles
Equilibrium moles
Equilibrium
concentration
expression

Which is the correct concentration of N2H4 at equilibrium?

a. 0.11 M
b. 1.1 x 10-3 M
c. 1.1 x 10-5 M

What is the concentration of N2 at equilibrium? Of H2?

7. For the reaction below, Kp = 3.81 x 10-2 at 600 K.

PCl5 (g)  PCl3 (g) + Cl2 (g)

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 a. If initially the partial pressure of PCl5 was 1.2 atm, what are the equilibrium partial
pressures of PCl5, PCl3 and Cl2? Hint set up an “ice-box.”

8. What would be the effect on the amount of NH3 present for each of the following changes on a
constant volume equilibrium mixture of N2, H2, NH3?
N2(g) + 3 H2 (g)  2 NH3 (g) + heat
a. Adding more H2 (g)
b. Removing N2 (g)
c. Warming the reaction flask
d. Moving the system to a smaller flask