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Predicting The Direction of a Reaction
The reaction quotient, Qc can help keep track of reaction direction on changing some concentrations.
Kc is the constant at equilibrium; Q c is the value obtained with the nonequilibrium initial or forced values given by the problem. If Kc and Qc are equal, then the system is already at equilibrium. If Qc> Kc, then the reaction must shift to the left before equilibrium is reached (products must back react to become reactants). If Qc< Kc, then the system must shift to the right for the system to attain equilibrium (reactants must turn into products).
Ex: The Ka for the dissociation of acetic acid is 1.8 x 10-5. HA(aq) ↔ A-1(aq) + H+1(aq)
If a system contains [A-1 ] = 2.0 x 10-4M, [H+1] = 1.5 x 10-5 M and [HA] = 0.55 M, determine whether the system is in equilibrium or not and in what direction it must shift to put it into equilibrium. Qc = 5.5 x 10-9 (compared to Ka = 1.8 x 10-5) so the system must shift to the right (more product) to attain equilibrium.
Calculating Equilibrium Concentrations
Use the Law of Mass action equation
K = [C]c [D]d/ [A]a [B]b
If all the reactant and product concentrations are known and the balanced equation is known, then a value for K can be easily calculated.
When K is known, the equilibrium concentration values can be calculated knowing one or more initial concentration values. Use the balanced equation to relate initial and equilibrium values. The resulting equation may involve the quadratic formula.
Ex: For the dissociation of any weak acid, HA(aq) ↔ H+1(aq) + A-1(aq)
- = [H+1] · [A-1]/ [HA] Suppose K = 4.2 x 10-7and imagine a system where the initial HA concentration is 0.100M. What are the equilibrium concentrations of HA, H+1 and A-1?
At equilibrium, let [A-1] = [HA] = X. Let [HA] = 0.100-X
(Sometimes, X is so small that the [HA] change can be ignored and equilibrium [HA] = 0.001M also. See if this is true in this case.)
4.4 x 10-7 = X2/(0.100) X2 = 4.4 x 10-8 X = 2.1 x 10-4M = [A-1]
= [HA] [HA] = (0.100 -X) = 0.100 – 0.00021 ≈ 0.001M (The assumption holds.)
To check the answer, plug the numbers into the K expression to see if the original K value is obtained.
Other calculations may be more difficult and require use of the quadratic formula.
Example : Ca+2 + EDTA-2 ↔ CaEDTA K = 4.80
Suppose initial [Ca+2] = 0.1000 M and initial [EDTA-2] = 0.0500M, what are the equilibrium concentrations of Ca+2, EDTA-2 and CaEDTA?
Let X = [CaEDTA], 0.0100 – X = [Ca+2] and 0.0500 -X = [EDTA2].
= [CaEDTA] / [Ca+2] · [EDTA-2] = 9.80
= X/(0.0100 – X)(0.0500 – X)
X = 9.80(5.00 x 10-4 – 0.0600X + X2)
X = 4.90 x 10-3 – 0.588X + 9.80X29.80X2 – 1.588X + 4.90 x 10-3
Using the quadratic equation, X =- 0.159 (physically impossible) and
X = 0.0032 (a plausible value) [CaEDTA] = 0.0032M, [Ca+2] = 0.0068M and [EDTA-2] = 0.0468M
The Position of Equilibrium
When a bunch of molecules are left alone, they reach a state of equilibrium. But that position of equilibrium can change if something happens to the molecules. Here’s a list of things that can change the equilibrium point:
- New molecules or substances are added that are not a part of the main reaction.
2. The temperature of the system is changed. - The pressure of the system is changed.
- The concentrations are changed, like adding more water to a solution or adding more of one reactant or product.
- There is a change in the total volume of the system.
Equilibrium doesn’t always mean that there are equal numbers of reactant and product molecules. Our equilibrium point may look like it is in the middle of the two concentrations, but it can be anywhere. It’s all about balance and finding a happy point. There are times when everything becomes a product, and other reactions where nothing happens. It all depends on the molecules and conditions of the system.
Le Chatelier Principle
Le chatelier, a French scientist came up with a principle for systems in equilibrium. The principle says that if you have a system in equilibrium and you do anything to it that messes up the equilibrium, the system will try to move back to the original state of equilibrium. Or, if you have a happy system and you make it unhappy, it will try to make itself happy again.
His exact words were, “A system in equilibrium, when subjected to a stress resulting from a change in temperature, pressure, or concentration, and causing the equilibrium to be upset, will adjust its position of equilibrium to relieve the stress and reestablish equilibrium.”
Catalysts
Reactions need a certain amount of energy in order to happen. If they don’t have it, the reaction probably can’t happen. A catalyst lowers the amount of energy needed so that a reaction can happen more easily. A catalyst is all about energy. If you fill a room with hydrogen gas (H2) and oxygen gas (O2), very little will happen. If you light a match in that room (or just produce a spark), most of the hydrogen and oxygen will combine to create water molecules (H2O). It is an explosive reaction. You can also add a catalyst to that room and get one little reaction started. In that situation, you could add a little palladium (Pd) to act as the catalyst.
The energy needed to make a reaction happen is called the activation energy. As everything moves around, energy is needed. The energy that a reaction needs is usually in the form of heat. When a catalyst is added, something special happens. Maybe a molecule shifts its structure. Maybe that catalyst makes two molecules combine and they release a ton of energy. That extra energy might help another reaction to occur in something called a chain reaction. You could also think of a catalyst like a bridge in some instances. Instead of letting reactions happen in the same (but faster) way, it can offer a new direction or chemical pathway in order to skip steps that require energy.
Catalysts are also used in the human body. They don’t cause explosions, but they can make very difficult reactions happen. They help very large molecules to combine. Catalysts lower the activation energy required for a reaction to occur. With the activation energy lower, the products can also combine more easily. Therefore, the forward and reverse reactions are both accelerated. It changes both rates and usually changes the equilibrium point.
Inhibitor works in exactly the opposite way as catalysts. Inhibitors slow the rate of reaction. Sometimes they even stop the reaction completely. Inhibitor can be used to make the reaction slower and more controllable. Without inhibitors, some reactions could keep going and going and going. If they did, all of the molecules would be used up. That would be bad, especially in your body.