Chemical Equilibrium

• Reversible Reaction; one in which the products react to give back the reactants {reaction is going in both directions}
• Dynamic State; The reactants are continuously forming products and the products are continuously forming reactants
• Chemical Equilibrium; a state of dynamic balance where the rate of the forward reaction equals the rate of the backwards reaction.
• La Chateilier Principle;

  if a stress is applied to a system at Equilibrium, the system readjusts to relieve the stress applied.
• Stresses;

  1. Pressure
  2. Concentration
  3. Temperature
• Temperature;

  • Increased; Endothermic reaction is favoured to increase the temperature; Heat is absorbed.
  • Decreased; Exothermic reaction is favoured to decrease the temperature; heat is expelled.
• Pressure; GASES ONLY;

  • Increased; side with the fewer molecules is favoured, to release pressure.
  • Decreased; side with more molecules is favoured.
• Concentration;

  • Increasing concentration; equilibrium will shift to decrease its concentration - in the direction that uses it up
  • Decreasing concentration; equilibrium will shift to increase its concentration - in the direction that produces more of it.