5.6.3

Properties of the Equilibrium Constant

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Properties of the Equilibrium Constant

The equilibrium constant (K) tells you to what extent reactants form products when a reaction is at equilibrium. There are some useful properties of the equilibrium constant (K):

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Reverse reactions

  • The equilibrium constant (K) can be inverted to find for the equilibrium constant (K) for the reverse reaction.
    • E.g. K = 3 for a reaction.
    • The reverse of the reaction has K = 13\frac{1}{3}
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K is inverted

  • K is inverted for the reverse of a reaction because the reactants and the products switch in the reaction.
  • Switching the reactants and the products flips the fraction used to calculate K.
    • A    B      A\;\rightleftharpoons\;B\;\;\;      Kc=[B][A]  \;\;\;K_c = \large\frac{[B]}{[A]}\; at equilibrium.
    • B    A      B\;\rightleftharpoons\;A\;\;\;      Kc=[A][B]  \;\;\;K_c = \large\frac{[A]}{[B]}\; at equilibrium.
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Stoichiometric coefficients

  • Changing the stoichiometric coefficients in an equation changes the value of the equilibrium constant.
  • Multiplying the stoichiometric coefficients in an equation by a factor of xx results in the equilibrium constant (K) being raised to the power of xx.
    • A    B      A\;\rightleftharpoons\;B\;\;\;      Kc=[B][A]  \;\;\;K_c = \large\frac{[B]}{[A]}\; at equilibrium.
    • xA    xB      xA\;\rightleftharpoons\;xB\;\;\;      Kc=[B]x[A]x\;\;\;K_{c'} = \large\frac{[B]^x}{[A]^x} =Kcx   = {K_c}^x\; at equilibrium.
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Adding equilibrium equations

  • When you add two or more equilibrium equations together, you form an overall equation.
    • If A \rightleftharpoons B and B \rightleftharpoons C, you can write one equilibrium where A \rightleftharpoons C.
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Equilibrium constants

  • A \rightleftharpoons B has the equilibrium constant K1 = [B][A]\large\frac{[B]}{[A]}
  • B \rightleftharpoons C has the equilibrium constant K2 = [C][B]\large\frac{[C]}{[B]}
  • You can work out the equilibrium constant for the overall reaction.
    • A \rightleftharpoons C has the equilibrium constant K3 = [C][A]\large\frac{[C]}{[A]}
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The reaction quotient

  • The expression for the equilibrium constant (K) is the same as the expression for the reaction quotient (Q).
    • All the properties of the equilibrium constant (K) also apply to the reaction quotient (Q) because the expressions are the same.

Jump to other topics

1Structure - Models of the Particulate of Matter

2Structure - Models of Bonding & Structure

3Structure - Classification of Matter

3.1The Periodic Table: Classification of Elements

3.2Periodic Trends

3.3Group 1 Alkali Metals

3.4Halogens

3.5Noble gases, group 18

3.6Functional Groups: Classification of Organic

3.7Functional Group Chemistry

3.8Alkanes

3.9Alcohols

3.10Halogenoalkanes

4Reactivity - What Drives Chemical Reaction?

5Reactivity - How Much, How Fast & How Far?

6Reactivity - The Mechanisms of Chemical Change

7Measurement, Data Processing & Analysis

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