Question #2c380

1 Answer
Apr 30, 2015

The equilibrium constant for this reaction will be #K_"c" = 3.13#.

So, you've got a generic equilibrium reaction and you're asked to determine the equilibrium constant, #K_c#. In order to do that, you need to know the equilibrium concentration of all the species involved in the reaction.

Since you only know the equilibrium concentrations of #"A"# and #"C"#, you can use the initial concentrations to determine what you're missing - the equilibrium concentration of #"C"#.

Before doing any actual calculations, you can predict that #K_c# will be greater than 1, since the equilibrium concentration of the product increases and the equilibrium concentration of the #A# decreases - compared with their initial cocnentrations.

Use an ICE table (more here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RICE_chart) to find a relationship between the initial and the equilibrium concentrations of all the species

#" "A + " " " "color(red)(2)B " "rightleftharpoons " "C#
I....0.650..........1.20...............0.700
C...(-x).............(-#color(red)(2)#x)................(+x)
E.0.650-x........1.20-2x.............0.700+x

By definition, the equilibrium constant will be

#K_c = (0.700 + x)/((0.650 - x) * (1.20 - 2x)^2)#

You know that

#0.650 - x = 0.450 => x = 0.200#

(you get the same result if you use 0.700 + x = 0.900)

Replace the value of #x# into the equation and you'll get

#K_c = (0.700 + 0.200)/((0.650 - 0.200) * (1.20 - 2*0.200)^2)#

#K_c = (0.900)/(0.450 * 0.800^2) = 3.125#

Rounded to three sig figs, the answer will be

#K_c = color(green)(3.13)#