1. Chapter 6 (SCH4U) Chapter 15 (AP)
Chemical Equilibrium
Chapter 6 (SCH4U) Chapter 15 (AP)

2. Chemical Equilibrium 15.1 The Concept of Equilibrium
15.2 The Equilibrium Constant
15.3 Interpreting and Working with Equilibrium Constants
15.4 Heterogeneous Equilibrium
15.5 Calculating Equilibrium Constants
15.6 Applications of Equilibrium Constants
15.7 Le Chatalier Principle

3. The Concept of Equilibrium

4. Equilibrium: the extent of a reaction
In stoichiometry we talk about theoretical yields, and the many reasons actual yields may be lower.
Another critical reason actual yields may be lower is the reversibility of chemical reactions: some reactions may produce only 70% of the product you may calculate they ought to produce.
Equilibrium looks at the extent of a chemical reaction.

5. Equilibrium: is a state in which there are no observable changes as time goes by.
Chemical equilibrium is achieved when:
the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are equal and
the concentrations of the reactants and products remain constant
Physical equilibrium
H2O (l)
H2O (g)
Chemical equilibrium
N2O4 (g)
2NO2 (g)
14.1

6. Rate of sale of cookies = Rate of replacing cookies

7. The Concept of Equilibrium
N2O4 (g)
2 NO2 (g)
Colourless Brown

8. Elementary Reactions
Forward Reaction N2O4(g)  2 NO2 (g) Rate= kf[N2O4]
Reverse Reaction 2 NO2  N2O4(g) Rate=kr[NO2]2
At equilibrium, the rate of the forward reactions are equal.
kf[N2O4]=kf [NO2]2
[NO2]2 = kf = Equilibrium Constant
[N2O4] kf

9. The Concept of Equilibrium
As a system approaches equilibrium, both the forward and reverse reactions are occurring.
At equilibrium, the forward and reverse reactions are proceeding at the same rate.

10. A System at Equilibrium
Once equilibrium is achieved, the amount of each reactant and product remains constant.

11. The Concept of Equilibrium
Consider colorless frozen N2O4. At room temperature, it decomposes to brown NO2:
N2O4(g) 2NO2(g).
At some time, the color stops changing and we have a mixture of N2O4 and NO2.
Chemical equilibrium is the point at which the rate of the forward reaction is equal to the rate of the reverse reaction. At that point, the concentrations of all species are constant.
Using the collision model:
as the amount of NO2 builds up, there is a chance that two NO2 molecules will collide to form N2O4.
At the beginning of the reaction, there is no NO2 so the reverse reaction (2NO2(g)  N2O4(g)) does not occur.

12. The Concept of Equilibrium
As the substance warms it begins to decompose:
N2O4(g)  2NO2(g)
When enough NO2 is formed, it can react to form N2O4:
2NO2(g)  N2O4(g).
At equilibrium, as much N2O4 reacts to form NO2 as NO2 reacts to re-form N2O4
The double arrow implies the process is dynamic.

13. The Concept of Equilibrium
As the reaction progresses
[A] decreases to a constant,
[B] increases from zero to a constant.
When [A] and [B] are constant, equilibrium is achieved.

14. N2O4 (g) 2NO2 (g) equilibrium equilibrium equilibrium Start with NO2
Start with NO2 & N2O4
14.1

15. constant
14.1

16. The Haber Process N2(g) + 3 H2(g) 2 NH3(g)
Catalyst, pressure of several hundred atm, and several hundred degree Celsius temperature.
Closed system, meaning that N2 and H2 cannot be completely consumed.

17. Recap from Last Class
Conditions that Apply to All Equilibrium System :
Equilibrium is achieved in a reversible process when the rates of opposing changes are equal
Observable (macroscopic) properties of a system at equilibrium are constant.
Equilibrium can only be reached in a closed system
Equilibrium can be approached from any direction.

18. Thermodynamics & Equilibrium
Can you predict what will happen if you - let go of a pencil you are holding above the ground ? - add drops of food coloring to water? - begin to burn a piece of paper in air? - leave an iron nail outside over winter?
These are all examples of favorable (spontaneous) changes. That is, changes that have a natural tendency to happen under certain conditions.

19. Spontaneous Reaction
spontaneous reaction = one that, given the necessary activation energy, proceeds without continuous outside assistance
Example: a sparkler
Needs light from a flame for activation
Once lit, the available fuel combusts quickly and completely, releasing large amounts of energy as heat and light

20. Enthalpy & Entropy Changes Together Determine Spontaneity
Endothermic = + ∆H
Exothermic = - ∆H
Exothermic reactions tend to proceed spontaneously
a) Ba(OH)2(aq) + 2 NH4NO3(aq)  Ba(NO3)2(aq) + 2 NH4OH(l)
b) NH4NO3(s)  NH4 +(aq) NO3 -(aq)

21. Entropy
enthalpy is not the only factor that determines whether a chemical or physical change occurs spontaneously
entropy, S = a measure of the randomness or disorder of a system, or the surroundings

22. Unlike energy, entropy is not conserved, and is increasing
Unlike energy, entropy is not conserved, and is increasing. This is part of the Second Law of Thermodynamics.

23. Entropy Increase entropy = increase randomness = +∆S
When entropy increases in a reaction, the entropy of the products, Sproducts, is greater than the entropy of the reactants, Sreactants, yielding an overall positive change in entropy, S.

24. Entropy decrease entropy = decrease randomness = -∆S
When entropy decreases in a reaction, the entropy of the products, Sproducts, is less than the entropy of the reactants, Sreactants, yielding an overall negative change in entropy, S.

25. Increase in Entropy

26. Change in Volume of Gaseous Systems

27. Change in Temperature

28. Change in State

29. In Chemical Reactions…

30. Enthalpy, Entropy, and Spontaneous Change
Changes in the enthalpy, ∆H, and entropy, ∆S, of a system help us to predict whether a change will occur spontaneously
Exothermic reactions (-∆H) involving an increase in entropy (+∆S) occur spontaneously, because both changes are favoured
Endothermic reactions (+∆H) involving a decrease in entropy (-∆S) are not spontaneous because neither change is favoured

31. Enthalpy, Entropy, and Spontaneous Change
But what happens in cases where the energy change is exothermic (favoured) and the entropy decreases (not favoured)?
Or when the energy change is endothermic (not favoured) but entropy increases (favoured)?
In these situations, the temperature at which the change occurs becomes an important consideration as well as free energy

32. Free Energy -∆G = spontaneous +∆G = nonspontaneous
free energy (or Gibbs free energy), G = energy that is available to do useful work
In general, a change at constant temperature and pressure will occur spontaneously if it is accompanied by a decrease in Gibbs free energy, G
-∆G = spontaneous
+∆G = nonspontaneous

33. Second Law of Thermodynamics
“Law of Entropy”
all changes that occur in the universe. All changes, whether spontaneous or not, are accompanied by an increase in the entropy (overall disorder) of the universe
Mathematically, Suniverse > 0

34. Second Law of Thermodynamics
a system’s entropy, Ssystem, can decrease (the system becomes more ordered), so long as there is a larger increase in the entropy of the surroundings, Ssurroundings, so that the overall entropy change, Suniverse, is positive.

35. Predicting Spontaneity
The spontaneity of any reaction carried out at constant temperature and pressure can be predicted by calculating the value of G using the following equation, called the Gibbs-Helmholtz equation:

36. ∆G, Spontaneity & Free Energy
∆G = ∆H - T∆S
∆G = - = spontaneous
∆G = + = nonspontaneous
Remember: K = ºC + 273

37. Predicting Spontaneity
∆G = ∆H - T∆S
-∆G = spontaneous
+∆G= nonspontaneous

38. When a maximum state of disorder is reached- we say that a chemical system is at equilibrium. Therefore, equilibrium occurs when a system has reached maximum entropy 

39. The Equilibrium Constant
No matter the starting composition of reactants and products, the same ratio of concentrations is achieved at equilibrium.
For a general reaction
the equilibrium constant expression is
where Kc is the equilibrium constant.

40. Equilibrium Will N2O4 (g) 2NO2 (g) K = [NO2]2 [N2O4] = 4.63 x 10-3
aA + bB cC + dD
K =
[C]c[D]d
[A]a[B]b
Law of Mass Action
Equilibrium Will
K >> 1
Lie to the right
Favor products
K << 1
Lie to the left
Favor reactants
14.1

41. Homogenous equilibrium applies to reactions in which all reacting species are in the same phase.
N2O4 (g) NO2 (g)
Heterogenous equilibrium applies to reactions in which all reacting species in different phases.
CaCO3 (s) CaO (s) + CO2 (g)
14.2

42. Homogeneous Equilibrium
CH3COOH (aq) + H2O (l) CH3COO- (aq) + H3O+ (aq)
[CH3COO-][H3O+]
[CH3COOH][H2O]
Kc =
[H2O] = constant
[CH3COO-][H3O+]
[CH3COOH]
Kc =
General practice not to include units for the equilibrium constant.

43. Writing Equilibrium Constant Expressions
The concentrations of the reacting species in the condensed phase are expressed in M. In the gaseous phase, the concentrations can be expressed in M or in atm.
The concentrations of pure solids, pure liquids and solvents do not appear in the equilibrium constant expressions.
The equilibrium constant is a dimensionless quantity.
In quoting a value for the equilibrium constant, you must specify the balanced equation and the temperature.
If a reaction can be expressed as a sum of two or more reactions, the equilibrium constant for the overall reaction is given by the product of the equilibrium constants of the individual reactions.
14.2

44. Practice Problems

45. Attention AP students!

47. Kp= Kc (RT)Δn Kc vs. Kp (AP)
Kc is generally different in value than Kp, however you can calculate one from the other.
Kp= Kc (RT)Δn
Δn = (moles of gaseous product) – (moles of gaseous reactant )

48. Practice Problem(AP)
In the synthesis of ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen,
N2(g) + 3 H2 (g)  2 NH3 (g) Kc= 9.60 at 300°C. Calculate the Kp for the reaction.

49. Calculating an Equilibrium Constant

51. K and the Composition of the Equilibrium Mixture

52. Measuring Equilibrium Concentrations