CHEMICAL EQUILIBRIUM

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Calculation of the Equilibrium Constant
 1.00 mol SO2 and 1.00 mol O2 are confined at 1000 K
in a 1.00-liter container. At equilibrium, 0.925 mol SO3
has been formed. Calculate Kc for the reaction
2SO2(g) + O2(g)  2SO3(g) at 1000 K.
Solution:
2SO2(g) + O2(g)  2SO3(g)
Initial moles 1.00 1.00 0
Change - 2y -y + 2y
Moles at equil. 1.00 – 2y 1.00 – y 0 + 2y = 0.925 mol
n SO3 = 2y = 0.925 mol
n SO2 = 1.00 – 2y, 1.00 – 0.925 = 0.075 mol
n O2 = 1.00 – y, 1.00 – 0.46 = 0.54 mol
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2SO2(g) + O2(g)  2SO3(g)

K = [SO3]2 　 / 　 [SO2]2 [O2]

K = [0.925]2 　 / 　 [0.075]2 [0.54]

K = 282

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２ ) 3.00 moles of pure SO3 are introduced
into an 8.00-liter container at 1105 K. At
equilibrium 0.58 mole of O2 has been formed.
Calculate Kc for the reaction:
2 SO3(g)  2 SO2(g) + O2(g) at 1105 K.
 Answer:

2 SO3(g)  2 SO2(g) + O2(g)

Initial: 3.00 0 0
Change: - 2x + 2x + 1x
Equilibrium: 3.00-2x 0+2x 0+1x= 0.58 mole

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n O2 = 0 + x = 0.58 mole
n SO3 = 3 – 2x, 3 – 1.16 = 1.84 mole
n SO2 = 0 + 2x = 1.16 mole

[O2] = 0.58 　 / 　 8 = 0.0725 mole/liter

[SO3] = 1.84 　 / 　 8 = 0.23 M
[SO2] = 1.16 　 / 　 8 = 0.145 M

K = [SO2]2 [O2] 　 / 　 [SO3]2

K = [0.145]2 [0.0725] 　 / 　 [0.23]2 5

-2
3) A 1-liter container is filled with 0.50 mol of HI at
448oC. The value of the equilibrium constant for the
reaction: H2(g) + I2(g)  2 HI(g) at this
temperature is 50.5. What are the concentrations of
H2, I2 and HI in the vessel at equilibrium?

Answer: Given: K = 50.5

H2(g) + I2(g)  2 HI(g)
Initial: 0 0 0.50 mol
Change: x x - 2x
Equilibrium: 0+x 0+x 0.50-2x
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K = [HI]2 　 / 　 [H2] [I2]

 50.5 = [0.5 – 2x]2 　 / 　 [x] [x]

 (x = - 0.0979 mol) or (x = 0.0549 mol)

x = 0.0549 mol
H2(g) + I2(g)  2 HI(g)
Equilibrium: 0+x 0+x 0.50-2x

 [H2] and [I2] = 0.0549 M [HI] = 0.39 M

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Checking:
H2(g) + I2(g)  2 HI(g)
Equilibrium: 0+x 0+x 0.50-2x

 [H2] and [I2] = 0.0549 M [HI] = 0.39 M

K = [HI]2 　 / 　 [H2] [I2]

K = [0.39]2 　 / 　 [0.0549] [0.0549]

K = 50.5 8
 4) For the reaction: H2(g) + I2(g)  2 HI(g) ; the
equilibrium constant at 420oC is 54.3. Suppose
that the initial concentrations of H2 and I2 forming
HI are 0.00623 M, 0.00414 M, and 0.0224 M
respectively, what are the concentrations of these
species at equilibrium?

Answer:
H2(g) + I2(g)  2 HI(g)
Initial: 0.00623 0.00414 0.0224
Change: - x -x + 2x
Equil.: 0.00623-x 0.00414-x 0.0224+2x
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Solution:
54.3 = [0.0224 + 2x]2
[0.00623 – x] [0.00414 –x]

x = 0.0114 M or x = 0.00156 M

x = 0.00156 M

[H2] = 0.00467 [I2] = 0.00258 M [HI] = 0.0255 M

Checking:
K = [HI]2 = [0.0255]2
[H2] [I2] [0.00467] [0.00258]

K = 53.97 10

K = 54
5) At 1600 K, the equilibrium constant (Kc) for the
reaction: Br2(g)  2 Br(g) is 1.04 X10-3. The
amount of 0.10 mol Br2 is confined in a 1.0-liter
container and heated to 1600 K. Calculate (a) the
concentration of Br atoms present at equilibrium
and (b) the percentage of the initial Br2 that is
dissociated into atoms.

% dissociation = quantity dissociated X 100

original quantity

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 Solution: K = 1.04 X10-3
Br2(g)  2 Br(g)
Initial: 0.1 0
Change: -y + 2y
Equili.: 0.1 – y 0 + 2y
1.04 X10-3 = [2y]2
[0.1-y]
y = 4.97 x10-3 M
(a) 2y = 9.94 x10-3 M
(b) % dissociation = 4.97 x10-3 M X 100

0.10 M 12

= 4.97% or 5%