Equilibrium

What you can expect to learn from this page:

The student should be able to understand the reverse of this chemical process

H2 + I2-->2HI

Background Summary:

In order to fully understand the information presented on this site, a student should have a basic knowledge of catalysts and activation energy

catalysts which lower a molecules activation energy, which is the energy it takes to start a reaction, making it easier for the bonds to be broken and the reaction to occur.

 

Equlibrium is very necessary to having an advanced understanding of chemistry and chemical reactions.

Lesson:

chemical equilibrium occurs when opposing reactions are going at the same rate.

This is a very straightforward concept.

When H molecules and I molecules are present together, they will collide forming HI molecules. The amount of HI will increase and the amounts of H2 and I2 will decrease. The fact that this happens proportionally is the concept of equilibrium.

two molecules combining and two molecules seperating

 

This process can work in an inverse direction.

True

False

If you have a full understanding of this concept, you will realize that to reverse an equation, all you have to do is switch it around, or do it backwards.

At a point of equilibrium, reactants are being made at the same rate that products are.

A chemical is always trying to be in a state of equilibrium.

watch this video and answer the question in response:

Reactions go both ways,

A. In every single case

B. Only in an exothermic reaction

C. Only in an an endothermic reaction

Go the this site, go through the slide show and answer the question in response

http://ull.chemistry.uakron.edu/genobc/Chapter_08/

According to Le Chatelier's principle, will adding an outside factor to the reaction, once it is in a state of equilibrium, affect the system?

Yes

No

 

 

Homework (if any):

So if you were given any equation, could you reverse it?

Our first equation: H2 + I2--> 2HI, looks like what when reversed?

One more complicated: 2H2O--> H3O+ + OH-, looks like what when reversed?

Write these down on a piece of paper, and simply reverse them!

The answers are as simple as this: 2HI-->H2 + I2 and H3O+ + OH--->2H2O

Bonds are constantly being broken apart and put back together, that is why one must know each end of the equation and what reactions and products are being made.

Once this simple concept is understood, it will help greatly when one studies further and learns about equilibrium constant.