1.6.2

Equilibrium Constants

Test yourself

Equilibrium Constants

It's great to know all about equilibria, but it's even better to be able to do some maths with it.

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Equilibrium constant: Kc

  • The equilibrium constant is for a particular reaction at a particular temperature.
    • An equilibrium constant greater than one indicates that the forward reaction dominates.
    • An equilibrium constant less than one indicates that the backward reaction dominates.
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Maths

  • For the reaction aA + bB \rightleftharpoons cC + dD:
  • Kc=[D]d[C]c[A]a[B]bK_c = \frac{[D]^d[C]^c}{[A]^a[B]^b}
    • The square brackets indicate concentrations.
    • The indices are the stoichiometries of the components.
      • These are the numbers before each species in the reaction equation - represented above by lower case letters.
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Calculations

  • We may be given the value of Kc so we will have to sub the values in for each concentration, this will give us a value for Kc.
    • Make sure to sub the units of each concentration into this calculation to make sure the Kc value has the correct units.
  • We can also be given the Kc value and may have to rearrange the equation to find a concentration.

Jump to other topics

1Physical Chemistry

2Physical Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)

3Inorganic Chemistry

4Inorganic Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)

5Organic Chemistry 1

6Organic Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)

6.1Optical Isomerism (A2 Only)

6.2Aldehydes & Ketones (A2 Only)

6.3Carboxylic Acids & Esters (A2 Only)

6.4Aromatic Chemistry (A2 Only)

6.5Amines (A2 Only)

6.6Polymers (A2 Only)

6.7Biological Organic (A2 Only)

6.8Organic Synthesis (A2 Only)

6.9NMR Spectroscopy (A2 Only)

6.10Chromatography (A2 Only)

6.11A-A* (AO3/4) - Organic 2

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