Equilibrium

• open system is when matter and energy can be exchanged with the surrounding, while a closed system means that only energy can be exchanged with the surrounding
• irreverisble reaction is a reaction that occurs in a linear direction where the reactants are converted into the products, but cannot be turned back
• Reverisble reaction occurs when a forward reaction can be reversed and occurs when the forward and reverse have the same rate of change known as equilibrium
• Chemical equilibrium can be described as being in a dynamic state because the forward and reverse reactions have not ceased but instead occur simultanously
• The equilibrium law measures if a reaction tends to have a higher or lower concentration of products or reactants, k. A reaction quotient is calculated for any mixture of reactants or products at any time, Q.

  • If Q>K the reaction shifts left to make more reactants.
  • If Q<K the reaction shifts right to make more products.
• Le Chatelier's principle states that if an equilibrium system is subjected to a change it is no longer at equilibrium and the system will adjust to partially oppose the change.
• An increase in reactants will favour the forward reaction will an increase in products favours the reverse reaction
• As pressure and volume is inversely proportionate, increasing pressure will decrease volume favouring the side with less particles, while decreasing pressure will increase volume favouring the side with more particles
• Adding an inert gas will cause no change, similar to when you add a catalyst
• Adding water or diluting the solution will favour the side with the most particles.
• Increasing temperature in an exotermic reaction favours the reverse reaction, while in an endothermic reaction it will favour the forward reaction. Temperature will affect the equilibrium constant