Deduce the equilibrium constant expression (Kc) from the equation for a homogeneous reaction
A homogenous reaction is when the reactants and the products are all in the same state. The equilibrium law shows that the concentration of reactants and products have a relationship. It is expressed:
The coefficients in the equation above are important. The relationship between them to calculate the equilibrium constant is shown below:
Note that this is dependent of temperature. The square brackets mean the concentration of each species.
Equilibrium constants will have different units. It is also possible to calculate this for the pressure of a gaseous reaction, labelled Kp.
Deduce the extent of a reaction from the magnitude of the equilibrium constant
When the constant becomes larger, this means that the reaction favours the right hand side of the equation and more of the products are made. When the constant becomes smaller, the reaction favours the left-hand side of the equation and fewer of the products are made.
Apply Le Chatelier’s principle to predict the qualitative effects of changes in temperature, pressure and concentration on the position of equilibrium and on the value of the equilibrium constant
The equilibrium constant changes according to temperature. Le Chatelier showed that when conditions change in the environment of a reaction, then the reaction will move the equilibrium constant to accommodate it.
The position of equilibrium is also affected by concentration, however the equilibrium constant is not.
Le Chatelier’s principle also applies to pressure of gases, in that the position of equilibrium will change, but the equilibrium constant does not.
Note that for the dilution of a reaction taking place in solution, the reaction will favour the side with the highest number of moles of particles in order to increase the concentration of all the particles.
State and explain the effect of a catalyst on an equilibrium reaction
Catalysts increase the rate of reaction so that equilibrium is reached faster with changing the equilibrium constant or the position of equilibrium. Eventually, the reactants and products will still reach the same concentrations as if a catalyst were not used.
Apply the concepts of kinetics and equilibrium to industrial processes
When considering the factors for the industrial production of a chemical substance, the following must be taken into account:
- Rate of reaction – How appropriate is it and is it high enough to make it useful?
- Yield – Will a sufficient amount of the substance be produced?
- Economics – How much will it cost to create the optimum conditions and will the revenue outweigh this?
The producers will try to optimise all these things so that they can produce the substance quickly, in large quantities and for the lowest cost possible.
The Haber Process
The Haber process is used for the industrial production of ammonia which is used for:
- Fertiliser
- Explosives
- Nitric Acid
- Polymers
The principles of equilibrium can be used to increase the rate of reaction and yield, such as increasing the concentration of the reactants, removing products as they form, increasing gas pressure or decreasing the temperature (as the forward reaction is exothermic).
Real conditions used:
- Pressure: 100-350 atm
- Lower pressure used to ensure safety
- More expensive at such a high pressure, but increases the rate and yield
- Temperature: 400-450°C
- Although the yield would be greater at lower temperatures, the temperature is increased to speed up the rate of
- Catalyst: Porous iron (Fe)
- Cheap and effective
- Reactants are passed over the iron several times until a significant yield is produced
The Contact Process
The Contact process produces sulfuric acid. However, the reaction takes place in four steps, the second of which is an equilibrium reaction.
The following reactions are:
Since one of the reactions is an equilibrium reaction, the rate of reaction and the yield can be increased by:
- Increasing the concentration of the reactants
- Removing product as it forms
- Increasing gas pressure
- Decreasing the temperature
With all this in mind, the actual conditions for the Contact process are:
- Excess air added
- Atmospheric pressure
- 440°C for incoming gases
A catalyst is also used to increase the rate of reaction – vanadium oxide, V2O5, which is laid out in pellets to increase surface area.