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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.

125 votes
7 answers
87k views

Is a negative pH level physically possible?

A friend of mine was looking over the definition of pH and was wondering if it is possible to have a negative pH. From the equation below, it certainly seems mathematically possible—if you have a $1.1$...
apnorton's user avatar
  • 1,369
42 votes
3 answers
39k views

What is the difference between ∆G and ∆G°?

In Brady's Molecular Nature of Matter, I read that $\Delta_\mathrm{r} G^{\circ}$ is $\Delta_\mathrm{r} G$ at $25~^\circ\mathrm{C}$. But later, it gives a value for $\Delta_\mathrm{r} G^\circ$ at ...
Vieri_Wijaya's user avatar
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
34 votes
2 answers
190k views

What would be the effect of the addition of an inert gas to a reaction at equilibrium?

Why does a dissociation reaction shift to the right with the addition of an inert gas?
pcforgeek's user avatar
  • 989
33 votes
4 answers
69k views

Why are solids and liquids not included in the equilibrium constant? What about in a reaction rate calculation?

Take for instance the reaction $$\ce{H2(g) + I2(s) <=> 2HI(g)}$$ The equilibrium constant would not include the solid $\ce{I2}$, but why is this? I have read that its concentration is a ...
1110101001's user avatar
  • 3,256
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
26 votes
4 answers
3k views

What software can calculate aqueous solution equilibria?

What software is available out there to calculate the equilibrium in a set of reactions in aqueous solution? In particular, I'm interested in software general enough to simulate things like titration ...
F'x's user avatar
  • 23.8k
25 votes
2 answers
3k views

Which equilibrium constant is appropriate to use?

I have learnt that the standard free energy change is related to the equilibrium constant of a reaction by, $$\Delta G^\circ = -RT \ln K$$ Here, does $K$ refer to $K_p$ or $K_c$? Also, please give ...
Newton's user avatar
  • 1,245
25 votes
2 answers
13k views

Why does water dissociate to H3O+ and OH- rather than H+ and OH-?

Why does water dissociate to $\ce{H3O+ + OH-}$ instead of $\ce{H+ + OH-}$? This question came to surface when I was learning about acids and bases, and learned this definition: $\mathrm{pH=}-\log_{10}[...
Ell's user avatar
  • 383
23 votes
2 answers
5k views

Why don't everyday things burn?

Ok, so I learned about the equilibrium constant. Now, I've seen that the equilibrium constant of burning is extremely small $(K \ll 1)$. here, I have a question. you see, $K$ is still NOT 0, which ...
Danny  Han's user avatar
  • 411
23 votes
2 answers
5k views

What is the difference between "reaction in both directions" and "equilibrium"?

According to the Wikipedia page on Chemical Equations: Symbols are used to differentiate between different types of reactions. To denote the type of reaction: "$=$" symbol is used to denote a ...
krismath's user avatar
  • 483
22 votes
2 answers
916 views

Is carbonyl-enol tautomerization only intermolecular or can it be intramolecular?

During workup of a conjugate addition reaction, it is likely that protonation occurs at the oxygen of the enolate formed. See discussion here: Do enolates get protonated at the carbon or oxygen atom? ...
SendersReagent's user avatar
21 votes
2 answers
3k views

Why does the reaction quotient use the products (multiplications) of reactants and products, rather than their respective sums?

As you may know, the reaction quotient $Q_c$ is defined by the equation $$ Q_c = \frac{[C]^\gamma [D]^\delta}{[A]^\alpha [B]^\beta} $$ for the chemical reaction $$ \alpha A + \beta B \rightarrow \...
olliezhu's user avatar
  • 321
21 votes
4 answers
27k views

Why are equilibrium constants unitless?

I haven’t quite reached the point where I can read a full-fledged text on chemical kinetics and thermodynamics yet, so bear with me, please. I’m wondering why a value like $K_\text{eq} = \frac{[\ce{...
readyready15728's user avatar
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

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