Chemical Equilibrium (Notes)

Chapter 7
Chemical Equilibrium Notes

Chemical Equilibrium
In a chemical reaction chemical equilibrium is defined as the state at which there is no
further change in concentration of reactants and products.
For example,
At equilibrium the rate of forward reaction is equal to the rate of backward reaction.
Equilibrium mixture: The mixture of reactants and products in the equilibrium state is
called an equilibrium mixtures.
Based on the extent to which the reactions proceed to reach the state of equilibrium,
these may be classified in three groups:
(i) The reactions which proceed almost to completion and the concentrations of the
reactants left are negligible.
(ii) The reactions in which most of the reactants remains unchanged, i.e. only small
amounts of products are formed.
(iii) The reactions in which the concentrations of both the reactants and products are
comparable when the system is in equilibrium.
Equilibrium in Physical Processes

(i) Solid-Liquid Equilibrium: The equilibrium is represented as
Rate of melting of ice = Rate of freezing of water.

The system here is in dynamic equilibriums and following can be inferred.
(a) Both the opposing processes occur simultaneously
(b) Both the processes occur at the same rate so that the amount of ice and water –
remains constant.
(ii) Liquid-Vapour Equilibrium
The equilibrium can be represented as
Rate of evaporation = Rate of condensation

When there is an equilibrium between liquid and vapours, it is called liquid-vapour
equilibrium.
iii) Solid-Vapour Equilibrium

This type of equilibrium is attained where solids sublime to vapour phase. For example,
when solid iodine is placed in a closed vessel, violet vapours start appearing in the vessel
whose intensity increases with time and ultimately, it becomes constant.
Equilibrium involving dissolution of solids
When any solid dissolves in liquid it is called as dissolution.
For example: When we add salt to water it dissolves .In this, the forward reaction is
dissolution. When the solvent can’t dissolve more solute the process of crystallization
occur in backward reaction.
At equilibrium: Rate of dissolution = Rate of crystallization .The state variable that

becomes constant is concentration.
Solution: When a limited amount of salt or sugar or any solute dissolves in a given
amount of water/any solvent solution is formed.
At a given temperature a state is reached when no more solute can be dissolved then the
solution and such solution is called saturated solution.
The equilibrium between a solid and its solution is indicated by the saturated solution
and may be represented as)
Sugar(in solution) ⇌ Sugar(un dissolved)
Equilibrium between a Gas and its Solution in Liquid

This type of equilibrium can be seen by the following example:
Let us consider a sealed soda water bottle in which C02 gas is dissolved under high
pressure. A state of equilibrium is attained between CO2 present in the solution and
vapours of the gas.
Henry’s law: The solubility of a gas in a liquid at a certain temperature is governed by

Henry’s law. It states that the mass of a gas that dissolves in a given mass of a solvent at
any temperature is proportional to the pressure of the gas above the surface of the
solvent.
Characteristics of Equilibria Involving Physical Processes

(i) The equilibrium can be attained only in closed systems at a given temperature.
(ii) At the equilibrium the measurable properties of the system remain constant.
(iii) The equilibrium is dynamic since both the forward and backward processes occur
at same rate.
(iv) At equilibrium, the concentrations of substances become constant at constant
temperature.
(v) The value of equilibrium constant represents the extent to which the process
proceeds before equilibrium is achieved.
Equilibrium in Chemical Processes
Like equilibria in physical systems it can also be achieved in chemical process involving
reversible chemical reactions carried in closed container.
The dynamic nature of chemical equilibrium can be demonstrated in the synthesis of

ammonia by Haber’s process.
Equilibrium in Homogeneous System

When in a system involving reversible reaction, reactants and products are in the same
phase, then the system is called as homogeneous system.
For Example,
After some time it can be observed that an equilibrium is formed. The equilibrium can
be seen by constancy in the colour of the reaction mixture.
Law of Chemical Equilibrium
At a constant temperature, the rate of a chemical reaction is directly proportional to the
product of the molar concentrations of the reactants each raised to a power equal to the
corresponding stoichiometric coefficients as represented by the balanced chemical
equation. Let us consider the reaction,
Relationship between Equilibrium constant K, reaction Quotient Q and

Gibbs energy G.
A mathematical expression of thermodynamic view of equilibrium can be described by

tine equation.
Factors Affecting Equilibria
Le Chatelier’s principle: If a system under equilibrium is subjected to a change in
temperature, pressure or concentration, then the equilibrium shifts in such a manner as
to reduce or to counteract the effect of change.
Effect of Change of Concentration: When the concentration of any of the reactants or

products in a reaction at equilibrium is changed, the composition of the equilibrium
changes so as to minimise the effect.
Effect of Pressure Change

If the number of moles of gaseous reactants and products are equal, there is no effect of
pressure.
When the total number of moles of gaseous reactants and total number of moles of
gaseous products are different.
On increasing pressure, total number of moles per unit volume increases, thus the
equilibrium will shift in direction in which number of moles per unit volume will be less.
If the total number of moles of products are more than the total number of moles of
reactants, low pressure will favour forward reaction.
If total number of moles of reactants are more than total number of moles of products,
high pressure is favourable to forward reaction.
Effect of Temperature Change
When the temperature of the system is changed (increased or decreased), the
equilibrium shifts in opposite direction in order to neutralize the effect of change. In
exothermic reaction low temperature favours forward reaction e.g.,
but practically very low temperature slows down the reaction and thus a catalyst is
used. In case of endothermic reaction, the increase in temperature will shift the
equilibrium in the direction of the endothermic reaction.
Effect of a Catalyst
Catalyst has no effect on the equilibrium composition of a reaction mixture.
Reason: Since catalyst increases the speed of both the forward and backward reactions
to the same extent in a reversible reaction.

Chemical Equilibrium (Notes)

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Chemical Equilibrium (Notes)

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Chemical Equilibrium (Notes)

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Chapter 7

Chemical Equilibrium Notes

Equilibrium in Physical Processes

Rate of melting of ice = Rate of freezing of water.

Rate of evaporation = Rate of condensation

iii) Solid-Vapour Equilibrium

At equilibrium: Rate of dissolution = Rate of crystallization .The state variable that

Equilibrium between a Gas and its Solution in Liquid

Henry’s law: The solubility of a gas in a liquid at a certain temperature is governed by

Characteristics of Equilibria Involving Physical Processes

The dynamic nature of chemical equilibrium can be demonstrated in the synthesis of

Equilibrium in Homogeneous System

Relationship between Equilibrium constant K, reaction Quotient Q and

A mathematical expression of thermodynamic view of equilibrium can be described by

Effect of Change of Concentration: When the concentration of any of the reactants or

Effect of Pressure Change

You might also like