chapter 4 Flashcards
(41 cards)
many reactions are?
- reversible, eventually a state will be reached in which the forward and reverse reactions are proceeding at the same rate (equilibrium) so no net change in concentrations of reactants or products (dynamic equilibrium)
what is the equilibrium constant?
keq which is equal to the ceoncentration(s) of the products raised to the power of its respective coefficient divided by the concentration(s) of the reactants, which are also raised to the power of its coefficient
- a large Keq favours the products
- a small keq favours the reactants
- concentrations must be equilibrium concentrations and solids/liquids should not be included in the calculation
what is the keq for the reverse reaction?
- its the reciprocal of the keq for the forward process 1/keq
keq is dependent on?
- temperature
- assume temperature is at 25ºC
If the reaction is not in equilibrium, we use?
Q, the reaction quotient
- the same equation except with Q= [products]/[reactants] with no solids or liquids and raised to their respective coefficients
Q vs keq says?
- when Q < keq, the ratio of products to reactants is lower than it would be at equilibrium, so the reaction will proceed in the forward direction to increase the product concentrations and thus move towards equilibrium
- Q > keq, the ratio of products to reactants is greater than it would be at equilibrium, so the reaction will proceed in the reverse direction to increase the reactant concentrations
- Q = keq we are already at equilibrium
what is Le Chateliers principle?
- if an equilibrium mixture is disrupted, it will shift to favour the direction of the reaction that best facilitates a return to equilibrium
if we add more concentration to one side?
- the reaction will shift to the opposite side to balance out that excess of added concentration of one substance
- even if it is paired with another thing, that other thing will decrease but can still reach equilibrium
what happens if we remove something from either side of a reaction?
- the reaction will shift to the side where that substance was to try and restore it
Le chateliers principle can be used to?
- maximize the yield of a reaction procedure
pressure and volume are?
- inversely proportional
- if pressure increases, volume decreases vice versa
Le Chateliers principle with pressure and volume?
- an increase in volume means that our gas molecules will spread out, and less pressure will be exerted on the walls of the container so the system will shift in such a way as to regenerate our lost pressure so the system will shift to the side of the reaction that contains more moles of gas
- if we reduce the volume in the container, packing more gas molecules into a smaller area and increasing pressure. to relieve this stress, the system will shift toward the side containing fewer moles of gas
- ONLY COUNT MOLES OF GAS
what happens if temperature changes according to Le Chateliers principle?
- we must know if a reaction is endothermic or exothermic so look for delta H values or reaction types (combustion for example is exothermic)
what can we add to a reaction that won’t cause a shift?
- addition of a catalyst- increases the rate of a reaction, causing it to rech equilibrium more quickly. if a reaction is already at equilibrium, no disruption takes place
- addition of an inert (unreactive) gas at constant volume
what is temperature?
- is a property of the average kinetic energy of the particles under study and is directly proportional to average kinetic ebergy
what is the conversion from K to degrees Celsius?
- K = ºC + 273
- lowest temperature possible is 0K
what does heat refer to?
- the transfer of energy, specifically thermal energy, between objects of different temperatures
what is the zeroth law of thermodynamics?
- the zeroth low- describes the thermal relationship between systems. specifically, it states that if one system (system A) is in thermal equilibrium with another (system B), and system B is in thermal equilibrium with system C, then system A must also be in thermal equilibrium with system C “thermal equilibrium” means they have the same temperature
- if one system has a different temperature, then heat transfer will take place
what is an open system?
- those which can exchange both matter and energy with their surroundings
what is a closed system?
- energy can be exchanged with the surroundings, but matter cannot
what is an isolated system?
- does not exchange matter or energy with their surroundings and are thus perfectly insulated
what is the first law of thermodynamics?
- the first law is most relevant for closed systems
- in such a system, the change in the internal energy of the system (deltaU) is equal to the heat transfer into the system (Q) minue the work performed by the system on its surroundings (W)
- deltaU = Q - W
- Q heated = positive, heat lost = negative
- work done by the system on its surroundings = positive work, worl done on the system should be negative
what is a technique used to measure heat?
- calorimetry
for MCAT chemistry, the most common example of work done by a system is the expansion of gas against a flexible container or piston
the most common case of work done on a system is?
- gas compression

