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Equilibrium Constants

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

Equilibrium Constant: K<sub>c</sub>

Equilibrium Constant: Kc

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

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.
Calculations

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
1

Physical Chemistry

1.1

Atoms, Molecules & Stoichiometry

1.2

Atomic Structure

1.3

Chemical Bonding

1.4

States of Matter

1.5

Chemical Energetics

1.6

Electrochemistry

1.7

Equilibria

1.8

Partition Coefficient

1.9

Reaction Kinetics

2

Inorganic Chemistry

3

Organic Chemistry & Analysis

3.1

Introduction to Organic Chemistry

3.2

Hydrocarbons

3.3

Halogen Derivatives

3.4

Hydroxy Compounds

3.5

Carbonyl Compounds

3.6

Carboxylic Acids & Derivatives

3.7

Nitrogen Compounds

3.8

Polymerisation

3.9

Analytical Techniques

3.10

Organic Synthesis

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