AP Chemistry: Equilibrium Part 2 Continued…

Review of LeChatelier’s Principle and Types of Equilibrium Problems

Le Chatelier’s Principle: “If a system at equilibrium is disturbed by a change in temperature, pressure, or the
concentration of one of the components, the system will shift its equilibrium position so as to counteract the
effect of the disturbance.”

Practice 1: 2HI(g) ↔ H2(g) + I2(g)

The above system is at equilibrium. Identify what will happen to the partial pressure of I2(g) when the
following changes occur (increase, decrease or remain the same).

a. More HI is introduced to the system 2HI(g) ↔ H2(g) + I2(g)

b. More H2 is introduced to the system 2HI(g) ↔ H2(g) + I2(g)

c. H2 is removed from the system 2HI(g) ↔ H2(g) + I2(g)

d. More I2 is added to the system 2HI(g) ↔ H2(g) + I2(g)

1. What do you need to know about a reaction to know how an increase or decrease in temperature will
affect the system at equilibrium?

2. What are 4 ways you can be told whether a reaction is exothermic or endothermic?
a.

b.

c.

d.

Practice 2: MgSO4(s) ↔ Mg2+(aq) + SO42-(aq) ∆H = -19 kJ/mol

The following system reaches equilibrium. What will happen to the mass of MgSO4 when the following
changes occur?

a. The temperature increases MgSO4(s) ↔ Mg2+(aq) + SO42-(aq)

b. The temperature decreases MgSO4(s) ↔ Mg2+(aq) + SO42-(aq)

c. Barium nitrate is added to the system MgSO4(s) ↔ Mg2+(aq) + SO42-(aq)

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3. When does changing the pressure of a system NOT cause the equilibrium to shift?
a.

b.

4. What happens to the pressure if you decrease the volume of a system?

a. So which way would the reaction shift?

5. What happens to the pressure if you increase the volume of a system?

a. So which way would the reaction shift?

Practice 3: 2NO(g) + Br2(g) ↔ 2NOBr(g)

The above system has reached equilibrium. Which way will the reaction proceed when the following stresses
are placed on the system?

a. The volume of the reaction vessel is increased 2NO(g) + Br2(g) ↔ 2NOBr(g)

b. 15 moles of Argon gas are added to the system 2NO(g) + Br2(g) ↔ 2NOBr(g)

c. The volume of the reaction vessel is decreased 2NO(g) + Br2(g) ↔ 2NOBr(g)

Types of Equilibrium Problems

The easy type:

6. Writing the equilibrium expression (K, Kc, Keq, & Ksp)…bracket notation = concentration = molarity (only
include gases and aqueous)

Examples: Write the equilibrium constant expression, K, for the following reactions.
a. Ti (s) + 2Cl2 (g) ⇌ TiCl4 (g) c. HCl(aq) + H2O(l) ↔ H3O+(aq) + Cl-(aq)

b. Ca3(PO4)2(s) ↔ 3Ca2+(aq) + 2PO43-(aq)

7. Writing the equilibrium expression (Kp) for a reaction - Partial Pressure Notation (only include gases!!!) NO
BRACKETS!...Use parentheses & Px , where x = the chemical formula of the gas.

Example: Write the expression Kp for the following reaction:

a. Ti (s) + 2Cl2 (g) ⇌ TiCl4 (g)

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8. Calculating the equilibrium constant given equilibrium concentrations or equilibrium partial pressures:

Example: Calculate the equilibrium constant, Keq, for the following reaction when it is found that at
equilibrium [NH3] = 0.10 M, [H2] = 0.03 M, and [N2] = 0.04 M. 2NH3(g) ↔ 3H2(g) + N2(g)

**What would be the value for Keq for this reaction at the same temperature as the above reaction?

3/2 H2(g) + ½N2(g) ↔ NH3(g)

9. Equilibrium Problems with grams

Example: At 250⁰C, an equilibrium mixture in a 2.50 L flask contains 0.105 g PCl5, 0.220 g PCl3, and 2.12 g
Cl2. What is the value Kc ? PCl3 (g) + Cl2 (g) ⇌ PCl5 (g)

Example: At 250⁰C, an equilibrium mixture in a 2.50 L flask contains 0.220 g PCl3 and 2.12 g Cl2 where Kp =
0.613. What is the partial pressure of PCl5 in atm? PCl3 (g) + Cl2 (g) ⇌ PCl5 (g)

10. A little more difficult (RICE Charts come into play)

a. Calculating the equilibrium constant, K, given the initial concentrations of the reactants and the final
concentration of the products (or reactants)…*If you are not given a value for the initial concentrations
of the products you assume that they are ZERO!

Example: Calculate the equilibrium constant, Keq, for the following reaction. When 3.0 M NO reacts with
3.0 M O2 the equilibrium concentration of NO2 is 2.5 M. 2NO(g) + O2(g) ↔ 2NO2(g)

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 Example: Calculate the equilibrium constant, Kp, for the following reaction. When 6.0 atm of Br2(g) is
allowed to react with 3.5 atm of H2 gas, it is found that the pressure of Br2(g) at equilibrium is 3.9 atm.
H2(g) + Br2(g) ↔ 2HBr(g)

11. Difficulty level: Medium (Rice Charts and quadratic equation/graphing)

a. Calculating the equilibrium concentrations given the value for, K, and initial concentrations of
reactants. (assuming that initial concentrations of products are zero)

Example: Initially, 0.40 mol of nitrogen gas and 0.96 mol of hydrogen gas are placed in a 2.0 Liter
container at a constant temperature. The equilibrium constant for the reaction, Keq, is 7.66. What will
the equilibrium concentrations be for H2, N2 and NH3? 3H2(g) + N2(g) ↔ 2NH3(g)

12. Difficulty: Medium (RICE Chart and Q- Calculation and Graphing)

a. Calculating the equilibrium concentrations given the initial concentrations (this time you do start with
some products) and the Keq value. You must find Q and compare it to K so you can set up the RICE
Chart Properly.

Example: What will the final concentrations of all species be when 5.0 M NH3 is placed in a container that
contains 1.0 M H2 and 0.50 M N2? The Equilibrium constant, K, for the reaction is 7.66.
3H2(g) + N2(g) ↔ 2NH3(g)

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Sample Multiple Choice Questions:

1) The diagram above represents a mixture of NO2(g) and N2O4(g) in a 1.0 L container at a given temperature.
The two gases are in equilibrium according to the equation 2 NO2(g) → N2O4(g). Which of the following
must be true about the value of the equilibrium constant for the reaction at this temperature?

(A) K=0
(B) 0<K<1
(C) K=1
(D) K>1
(E) There is not enough information to determine the relative value of K.

2) At 445oC, Kc for the following reaction is 0.020.

2HI(g) → H2(g) + I2(g)

A mixture of H2, I2, and HI in a vessel at 445oC has the following concentrations: [HI] = 2.0 M, [H2] = 0.50 M
and [I2] = 0.10 M. Which one of the following statements concerning the reaction quotient, Qc, is TRUE for
the above system?

(A) Qc = Kc; the system is at equilibrium.

(B) Qc is less than Kc; more H2 and I2 will be produced.
(C) Qc is less than Kc; more HI will be produced.
(D) Qc is greater than Kc; more H2 and I2 will be produced.
(E) Qc is greater than Kc; more HI will be produced.

3) Consider the gas-phase equilibrium system represented by the equation:

2H2O(g) → 2H2(g) + O2(g)

Given that the forward reaction is endothermic, which of the following changes will decrease the
equilibrium amount of H2O?

(A) adding more oxygen

(B) adding a solid phase catalyst
(C) decreasing the volume of the container (the total pressure increases)
(D) increasing the temperature at constant pressure
(E) adding He gas

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Questions 4-5 Refer to the following:

2H2O(g) → 2H2(g) + O2(g)

H2O(g) decomposes into H2(g) and O2(g) according to the equation above. A pure sample of 2H2O(g) is placed
in a rigid, evacuated 1.00 L container. The initial pressure of the H2O(g) is 2.00 atm. The temperature is held
constant until H2O(g) reaches equilibrium with its decomposition products. The figures below show the initial
and equilibrium conditions of the system.

H2O H2O, H2 and O2

Ptotal = 2.00 atm Ptotal = 2.50 atm

Figure 1: Initial Figure 2: Equilibrium

4) Which of the following statements about Kp, the equilibrium constant, for the reaction is correct?

(A) Kp > 1
(B) Kp < 1
(C) Kp = 1
(D) It cannot be determined whether Kp > 1, Kp < 1, or Kp = 1 without additional information

5) Which of the following is the most likely cause for the increase in pressure observed in the container as the
reaction reaches equilibrium?

(A) A decrease in the strength of intermolecular attractions among molecules in the flask.
(B) An increase in the strength of intermolecular attractions among the molecules in the flask.
(C) An increase in the number of molecules, which increase the frequency of collisions with the walls of
the container.
(D) An increase in the speed of the molecules that then collide with the walls of the container with
greater force.

6) For a specific reaction, which of the following statements can be made about K, the equilibrium constant?

(A) It always remains the same at different reaction conditions.

(B) It increases if the concentration of one of the products is increased.
(C) It changes with changes in the temperature.
(D) It increases if the concentration of one of the reactants is increased.
(E) It may be changed by the addition of a catalyst