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Questions tagged [equilibrium]

The state in which both reactants and products are present at concentrations which have no further tendency to change with time.

4 votes
2 answers
7k views

Why are activities of solids and liquids taken to be unity?

First, I should mention that the question was already asked here: Why is active mass of a pure solid or liquid always taken as unity? However, the treatment there is qualitative and I do not really ...
roymend's user avatar
  • 447
26 votes
4 answers
4k views

Relation between chemical kinetics and chemical equilibrium

In my chemistry book, the law of chemical equilibrium is derived from the law of mass action: For a reversible chemical reaction $$\ce{aA +bB\rightleftharpoons cC + dD}$$ where $a$, $b$, $c$ and $d$ ...
S R Maiti's user avatar
  • 5,685
21 votes
3 answers
17k views

Does the number of H+ ions in solution go up on dilution of a weak acid?

In my textbook, a footnote says: In case of weak acids, on dilution the total number of $\ce{H^{+}}$ ions in solution increases because dissociation of the weak acid increases This didn't make ...
Gerard's user avatar
  • 3,479
15 votes
2 answers
17k views

What is the Ka of OH- and Kb of H3O+?

What is the $K_\mathrm{a}$ of $\ce{OH^-}$ and $K_\mathrm{b}$ of $\ce{H_3O^+}$? Have these constants been determined?
EJC's user avatar
  • 14.4k
13 votes
3 answers
9k views

How can the equilibrium shift, while Kc remains constant?

Consider the following reversible reaction. $$\ce{Cr2O7^2-(aq) + H2O(l) <=> 2 CrO4^2-(aq) + 2 H+(aq)}$$ What will happen to the position of equilibrium and the value of $K_c$ when more $\ce{H+}$ ...
DarkLightA's user avatar
10 votes
2 answers
26k views

Why is water not part of the equilibrium constant?

In the acid base reaction $$\ce{NH4+ + H2O <-> NH3 + H3O+}$$ the acidity constant, which is a relation between concentrations is given by $$K_{\mathrm{a}}=\frac {\ce{[NH3]} \cdot \ce{[H3O+]}}{...
YoussefDir's user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
14k views

Why does the equilibrium constant depend on the temperature but not on pressure and concentration?

According to my textbook (and intuitively) certain changes when the aforementioned 3 variables are altered occur in accordance with Le Chatelier's Principle. However, what I don't understand is what ...
user11629's user avatar
  • 972
0 votes
3 answers
25k views

What are the units of Kc and Kp?

They are both equilibrium constants as far as I know. Kc is in terms of molarity and Kp is in terms of pressure. Also both of them are ratios of respective quantities [ ratio of molarity(s) in Kc and ...
Gamira's user avatar
  • 177
39 votes
4 answers
30k views

Gibbs free energy-minimum or zero?

A reaction proceeds towards the direction of lesser Gibbs free energy (at constant $T$ (temperature) and $P$ (pressure)). So, we could say that Gibbs free energy at equilibrium is minimum. On the ...
ManishEarth's user avatar
  • 15.2k
15 votes
2 answers
2k views

How is volatility useful in the production of acids?

Sulfuric acid because of its low volatility can be used to manufacture more volatile acids from their corresponding salts. How does volatility affect the production of acids? Isn't it that sulfuric ...
JM97's user avatar
  • 3,487
14 votes
2 answers
22k views

What is active mass?

I'm aware of the fact that active mass is defined as the molarity of a substance, but my textbook states that "Active masses are dimensionless quantities but for our purposes we generally take them ...
user avatar
11 votes
2 answers
25k views

What is the correct unit for the equilibrium constant?

I have the following equation $$K_a = \dfrac{c\alpha^2}{1-\alpha},$$ with units $c= \pu{mol/cm^3}$ and $\alpha$ is the same. I'm not sure how to get the correct units for $K_a$. What I have come up ...
Patrick Moloney's user avatar
10 votes
1 answer
26k views

Derivation of relationship between equilibrium constant and Gibbs free energy change

Why is $\Delta G=\Delta G^o+RT\ln Q?$ It feels like all online sources were written for introductory Chemistry students! Where do I find a rigorous proof of this identity? Greatly appreciate it!
Greg's user avatar
  • 1,201
9 votes
3 answers
6k views

Find the pH of an amphiprotic salt dissolved in water at room temperature

Let's say I have a polyprotic acid $\ce{H2A}$ with the following properties: $$ \begin{align} \ce{H2A &<=> HA- + H+} & K_1 &= 1\cdot 10^{-1}\\ \ce{HA- &<=> A^2-+ H+} & ...
Caelan Miron's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
2k views

Chemical Equilibrium - Why do changes in pressure cause a shift in the ratio of products and reactants?

I understand Le Chatelier's principle and how every change to an equilibrium system causes an opposing reaction from the system. I also understand how, when pressure is increased, the equilibrium ...
Kian's user avatar
  • 472

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