Chemical Equilibrium
Chemical equilibrium and factors affecting equilibrium
Explain what is meant by:
– Open and closed systems: An open system continuously interacts
with its environment, while a closed system is isolated from its
surroundings.
– A reversible reaction: A reaction is reversible when products can be
converted back to reactants.
– Chemical equilibrium: It is a dynamic equilibrium when the rate of the
forward reaction equals the rate of the reverse reaction.
List the factors that influence the position of an equilibrium, i.e. pressure
(gases only), concentration and temperature.
Equilibrium constant
List the factors that influence the value of the equilibrium constant, Kc.
Write down an expression for the equilibrium constant having been given
the equation for the reaction.
Perform calculations based on Kc values.
Explain the significance of high and low values of the equilibrium
constant.
Application of equilibrium principles
State Le Chatelier's principle: When the equilibrium in a closed system is
disturbed, the system will re-instate a new equilibrium by favouring the
reaction that will oppose the disturbance.
Use Le Chatelier's principle to explain changes in equilibria qualitatively.
Interpret graphs of equilibrium, e.g. concentration/rate/number of
moles/mass/ volume versus time graphs.
Explain the use of rate and equilibrium principles in the Haber process
and the contact process.
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Question 1
Multiple-choice Questions
Four options are given as possible answers to the following questions.
Each question has only ONE correct answer.
1.1. Initially, a certain amount of I C (g) is sealed in an empty flask at a certain
temperature. The reaction that takes place is:
2 IC(g ) ⇌ I 2 (g) +C 2(g )
Which of the following statements describe(s) the change(s) occurring as
the system proceeds towards equilibrium?
i. The rate of the reverse reaction increases.
ii. The concentration of I C (g) increases.
iii. The concentration of C 2(g) increases.
A i only
B ii only
C i and iii only
D ii and iii only (2)
1.2. A hypothetical reaction reaches equilibrium at 10ºC in a closed container
according to the following balanced equation:
A(g) + B(g) ⇌ AB(g) ∆ H <0
The temperature is now increased to 25ºC. Which ONE of the following
is correct as the reaction approaches a new equilibrium?
REACTION RATE YIELD OF PRODUCTS
A Increases Remains the same
B Increases Decreases
C Increases Increases
D Decreases Decreases
(2)
2
1.3. The following equation reaches equilibrium in a closed container at a
certain temperature:
2 O3(g ) ⟶ 3 O2(g )
The pressure is now decreased by increasing the volume of the
container at constant temperature.
Which ONE of the following is correct as the reaction approaches a new
equilibrium?
NUMBER OF NUMBER OF CONCENTRATION
MOLES OF O3 (g) MOLES OF O2( g) OF O2( g)
A Increases Decreases Decreases
B Decreases Increases Increases
C Decreases Increases Decreases
D Increases Decreases Increases
(2)
1.4. Consider the equilibrium constants for the same reaction at two different
temperatures below.
298 K : K c =0 , 03
318 K : K c =0,0058
Which ONE of the following is CORRECT?
HEAT OF YIELD OF PRODUCTS AS THE
REACTION TEMPERATURE INCREASES
A ∆ H >0 Increases
B ∆ H <0 Decreases
C ∆ H >0 Decreases
D ∆ H <0 Remains the same
(2)
1.1. The reaction represented by the balanced equation below reaches
equilibrium in a closed container.
−¿ −¿ +¿
C 2(g) + H 2 O() ⇌ C(aq) +C O(aq) +2 H (aq) ¿ ¿ ¿
Which ONE of the following reagents will favour reaction when added?
A Hydrogen
B Sodium chloride
C Hydrogen chloride
D Sodium hydroxide (2)
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1.2. The balanced equation for three reactions at equilibrium in a closed
container are given below.
i. C 2 H 4 (g )+ H 2(g) ⇌ C2 H 6(g )
ii. Fe3 O4 (s) +4 H 2(g ) ⇌ 3 Fe(s )+ 4 H 2 O(g )
iii. SO 3(g )+ NO (g) ⇌ NO 2(g )+ SO2 (g)
In which reaction(s) will the equilibrium position shift when the volume
of the reaction vessel is decreased at constant temperature?
A i only
B i and ii only
C i and iii only
D i and ii and iii (2)
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Question 2
A sample of N 2 O4 gas is sealed in a container and heated. The N 2 O4 gas
decomposes to NO 2 gas and the reaction reaches equilibrium according to the
following balanced equation:
N 2 O4 (g) ⇌ 2 NO2 (g) ∆ H >0
The graph below shows how the concentration of the two gases change as a
results of changes made to the reaction conditions.
1.1. Define the term chemical equilibrium. (2)
1.2. How does the rate of the forward reaction compare to that of reverse
reaction at each of the following? Only write down HIGHER THAN,
LOWER THAN or EQUAL TO.
1.2.1. t1 (1)
1.2.2. t2 (1)
1.3. What change was made to the reaction conditions at each of the
following times? In both instances, the equilibrium constant for the
reaction did not change.
1.3.1. t3 (1)
1.3.2. t4 (1)
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1.4. How will an increase in temperature the yield of NO 2(g) ? Write down
INCREASE, DECREASES or REMAINS THE SAME. Use Le
Chatelier’s principle to explain the answer. (3)
1.5. Initially 0 , 92 mol N 2 O4 gas is sealed in a 2 dm3 container and heated to
100 ℃ . At equilibrium it is found that 20 , 7 % of the N 2 O4 gas has
decomposed to NO 2 gas. Calculate the equilibrium constant ( K c ) for this
reaction at 100 ℃. (7)
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Question 3
A certain amount of nitrogen dioxide gas ( NO 2) is sealed in a gas syringe at
25 ℃ . When equilibrium is reached, the volume occupied by the reaction
mixture in the gas syringe is 80 cm3. The balanced equation for the reacting
taking place is:
2 NO2 (g) ⇌ N 2 O4 (g) ∆ H <0
1.6. Define the term chemical equilibrium. (2)
1.7. At equilibrium the concentration of NO 2(g) is 0 , 2 mol ∙ dm3 . The equilibrium
constant for the reaction is 171 at 25 ℃.
Calculate the initial number of moles of NO 2(g) placed in gas syringe.
(8)
1.8. The diagram below shows the reaction mixture in the gas syringe after
equilibrium is established.
The pressure is now increased by decreasing the volume of the gas
syringe at constant temperature as illustrated in the diagram below.
1.8.1. IMMEDIATELY after increasing the pressure, the colour of the reaction
mixture in the gas syringe appears darker than before. Give a reason
for this observation. (1)
After a while a new equilibrium is established as illustrated below. The
colour of the reaction mixture in the gas syringe now appears lighter
than the initial colour.
1.8.2. Use le Chatelier’s principle to explain the colour change observed in
the gas syringe. (3)
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1.9. The temperature of the reaction mixture in the gas syringe is now
increased and a new equilibrium is established. How will each of the
following be affected?
1.9.1. Colour of the reaction mixture.
Write down only DARKER, LIGHTER or REMAINS THE SAME.
(1)
K
1.9.2. Value of the equilibrium constant ( c ).
Write down only INCREASE, DECREASE or REMAINS THE SAME.
(1)
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Question 4
Pure hydrogen iodide, sealed in a 2 dm3 container at 721 K , decomposes
according to the following balanced equation:
−1
2 HI (g) ⇌ H 2 (g) + I 2(g ) ∆ H =+26 kJ ∙ mol
The graph below shows how reaction rate changes with for this reversible
reaction.
1.10. Write down the meaning of the term reversible reaction. (1)
1.11. How does the concentration of the reactant change between the 12th
and the 15th minute? Write down only INCREASES, DECREASES or
NO CHANGE. (1)
1.12. The rates of both the forward and the reverse reactions suddenly
change at t=15 minutes .
1.12.1. Give a reason for the sudden change in reaction rate.
(1)
1.12.2. Fully explain how you arrived at the answer to QUESTION 9.3.1.
(3)
The equilibrium constant K c for the forward reaction is 0 , 02 at 721 K .
1.13. At equilibrium it is found that 0 , 04 mol HI ( g) is present in the container.
Calculate the concentration of H 2 (g) at equilibrium. (6)
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1.14. Calculate the constant for the reverse reaction. (1)
1.15. The temperature is now increased to 800 K . How will the value of the
equilibrium constant ( K c ) for the forward reaction change? Write down
only INCREASES, DECREASES or REMAINS THE SAME. (1)
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Question 5
An unknown gas, X 2 (g), is sealed in a container and allowed to form X 3 (g) at
300 ℃ . The reaction reaches equilibrium according to the following balanced
equation:
3 X 2 ⇌ 2 X 3 (g)
1.16. How will the rate of formation of X 3 (g) compare to the rate of formation
of X 2 (g) at equilibrium? Write down only HIGHER THAN, LOWER THAN
or EQUAL TO. (1)
The reaction mixture is analysed at regular time intervals. The results
obtained are shown in the table below.
TIME [ X2 ] [ X3 ]
(s) (mol ∙ dm )
−3
(mol ∙ dm )
−3
0 0,4 0
2 0,22 0,120
4 0,08 0,213
6 0,06 0,226
8 0,06 0,226
10 0,06 0,226
1.17. Calculate the equilibrium constant, K c , for this reaction at 300 ℃.
(4)
1.18. More X 3 (g) is now added to the container.
1.18.1. How will this change affect the amount of X 2 (g)? Write down
INCREASES, DECREASES or REMAINS THE SAME. (1)
1.18.2. Use Le Chatelier’s principle to explain the answer to QUESTION
10.3.1. (2)
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The curves on the set of axes below (not drawn to scale) was obtained
from the results in the table above.
1.19. How does the rate of the forward reaction compare to that of the
reverse reaction at t 1 ? Write down only HIGHER THAN, LOWER
THAN or EQUAL TO.
(1)
The reaction is now repeated at a temperature of 400 ℃ . The curves
indicated by the dotted lines below were obtained at this temperature.
1.20. Is the forward reaction EXOTHERMIC or ENDOTHERMIC? Fully
explain how you arrived at the answer. (4)
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The Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution curve below represents the
number of particles against kinetic energy at 300 ℃.
1.21. Redraw this curve in the ANSWER BOOK. On the same set of axes,
sketch the curve that will be obtained at 400 ℃ . Clearly label the curves
as 300 ℃ and 400 ℃ respectively. (2)
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Question 6
Initially, 2 , 2 g of pure CO 2(g ) is sealed in an empty 5 dm3 container at 900 ℃ .
1.22. Calculate the initial concentration of CO 2(g ). (4)
1.23. Give a reason why equilibrium will not be established. (1)
CaCO3 (g) is now added to the 2 , 2 g CO 2(g) in the container and after a while
equilibrium is established at 900 ℃ according to the following balanced
equation:
CaCO3 (s) ⇌CaO (s ) +CO2 (g)
The equilibrium constant for this reaction at 900 ℃ is 0,0108 .
1.24. Give a reason why this reaction will only reach equilibrium in a
SEALED container.
(1)
1.25. Calculate the minimum mass of CaCO3 (s) that must be added to the
container to achieve equilibrium. (7)
1.26. How will EACH of the following changes affect the amount of CO 2(g )?
Write down only INCREASES, DECREASES or REMAINS THE
SAME.
1.26.1. More CaCO3 (s) is added at 900 ℃ . (1)
1.26.2. The pressure is increased. (1)
1.27. It is found that the equilibrium constant ( K c ) for this reaction is
2 , 6 ×10 at 727 ℃ . Is the reaction EXOTHERMIC or ENDOTHERMIC?
−6
Fully explain how you arrived at the answer. (4)
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