EQUILIBRIA

2 types :
1)Chemical equilibrium (AS)
Dynamic equilibrium
Equilibrium constants and
calculations
Factors affecting equilibrium
Industrial applications
2)Ionic equilibrium (AS and A2)

Dynamic equilibrium

1)Equilibrium occurs when 2 opposing

forces occur at the same rate
Eg :
Physical equilibrium : H2O (l) H2O (g)
Chemical equilibrium : N2O4 (g)
2NO2 (g)
2)Dynamic changing
Reactants keep changing into products
and products keep changing back into
reactants

STATIC EQUILIBRIUM

Dynamic equilibrium

Chemical equilibrium

Types of chemical reactions

1. Irreversible reactions :
Reactions which occurs in one
direction only
Usually products are formed with
no reactants left ( unless one
reactant is in excess)

Eg :
2Mg + O2 2MgO
BaCl2 + H2SO4 BaSO4 + 2HCl

2. Reversible reactions :
Reactions can occur in two
directions
At the end of the reaction, both
reactants and products are present
( at equilibrium )

Eg :
N2 + 3H2 2NH3
2SO2 + O2 2SO3

Dynamic equilibrium

Consider the following reversible

reaction :
Forward reaction

A + B

C + D

Reverse/backward reaction

reactants

products

Note : rate of reaction is

proportional to concentration of
reactants
1. Initially on mixing:
a. Forward reaction: A + B C + D
i) [A] and [B] are high , rate of rxn
is high/fast
ii) With time, [A] and [B] decreases
therefore rate decreases

b. Reverse reaction : C + D A +
B
i) rate of reverse rxn is zero as no
C and D exist
ii) with time, as more C and D are
formed, rate will increase

2. At equilibrium,
a. there will come a time when rate of
forward reaction equals the rate of the
reverse reaction
b. System is said to have achieved
equilibrium
c. This equilibrium is said to be dynamic
even after equilibrium has been
reached, the two reactions continue to
proceed at equal rates

d. Concentrations of A, B , C and D
will be constant
A and B are being reformed in the
reverse reaction at the same rate
as they are reacting together in
the forward reaction

3. These changes can be

represented graphically :
a. change in rate of forward and
reverse reaction

b. change in concentration of
reactants and products
Eg :

time

Note :
Non-reversible reaction ( with no
reactant in excess )

concentratio
n

4. Characteristic features of a
dynamic equilibrium:
a. rate of forward reaction equals
rate of reverse reaction **
b. reaction is continuous *
c. concentrations of all products
and reactants are constant ( NOT
necessarily equal ) *

d. The equilibrium can be achieved

from either direction
e. The equilibrium can only be
achieved in a closed system
A closed system is one in which
there is absolutely no loss or gain
of materials to or from the
surroundings
Eg : CaCO3 (s) CaO(s) +
CO2(g)