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Equilibrium

The equilibrium constant Kc and its units

  • 3 things to know
  • Unit AS 2

Overview

Recall questions on what square brackets mean and how an expression is written from an equation, the expressions and units for the ammonia, hydrogen iodide, sulfur trioxide, phosphorus pentachloride and dinitrogen tetroxide equilibria, rearranging an expression, why equilibrium concentrations are used, and the one condition that changes Kc.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

Write the Kc expression and units for three gaseous equilibria, then rearrange the ammonia expression to make the ammonia concentration the subject.

Key term

Describe how an expression for Kc is written from a balanced equation.

Key term

Write the expression for Kc for N₂(g) + 3H₂(g) ⇌ 2NH₃(g).

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What do square brackets signify in an expression for Kc?

    Model answer

    They signify the concentration of that substance in mol dm⁻³ once equilibrium has been reached.

  2. 2

    Describe how an expression for Kc is written from a balanced equation.

    Model answer

    The equilibrium concentrations of the products are multiplied together on the top and those of the reactants on the bottom, each raised to the power of its balancing number.

  3. 3

    Write the expression for Kc for N₂(g) + 3H₂(g) ⇌ 2NH₃(g).

    Model answer

    The expression is Kc = [NH₃]² ÷ ([N₂][H₂]³).

  4. 4

    Deduce the units of Kc for N₂(g) + 3H₂(g) ⇌ 2NH₃(g).

    Model answer

    Substituting mol dm⁻³ gives (mol dm⁻³)² over (mol dm⁻³)⁴, so the units are mol⁻² dm⁶.

  5. 5

    Write the expression for Kc for H₂(g) + I₂(g) ⇌ 2HI(g) and deduce its units.

    Model answer

    The expression is Kc = [HI]² ÷ ([H₂][I₂]), and the concentration units cancel completely so Kc has no units.

  6. 6

    Write the expression for Kc for 2SO₂(g) + O₂(g) ⇌ 2SO₃(g) and deduce its units.

    Model answer

    The expression is Kc = [SO₃]² ÷ ([SO₂]²[O₂]), and the units are mol⁻¹ dm³.

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