Q.If Kb and Kf for a reversible reaction are 0.8×10−5 and 1.6×10−4 respectively, the value of the equilibrium constant is,
Concept understanding — Equilibrium Constant Kc and Kp
For a general reversible reaction xA+yB⇌lC+mD, the equilibrium constant is the ratio, at a fixed temperature, of the product of the active masses of the products (each raised to its own stoichiometric coefficient) to the product of the active masses of the reactants (likewise raised to their coefficients):
KC=[A]x[B]y[C]l[D]m
When every species in the reaction is gaseous, the same equilibrium can equally be described using partial pressures instead of concentrations:
KP=pAxpBypClpDm
KC (or KP) is a genuine constant at a given temperature -- it does not change if the starting concentrations are changed (doubling the initial concentrations of A and B in A+B⇌C changes the equilibrium composition the system settles into, but not the numerical value of KC itself, since KC depends only on temperature). It changes only if the temperature changes (the relationship is made quantitative by the Van't Hoff equation).
This expression is applied directly to compute KC from a set of measured equilibrium concentrations -- for example, for 2A(g)⇌2B(g)+C2(g) with [A]=1×10−4, [B]=2.0×10−3, [C2]=1.5×10−4 M at 400 K, KC=[A]2[B]2[C2]=(1×10−4)2(2.0×10−3)2(1.5×10−4)=0.06. The same expression also lets a balanced equation be reconstructed purely from a stated KC formula, by reading off which species (and what power) sit in the numerator (products) and denominator (reactants) -- for instance KC=[NO]4[H2O]6[NH3]4[O2]5 corresponds to the balanced equilibrium 4NO(g)+6H2O(g)⇌4NH3(g)+5O2(g).
Equilibrium-constant algebra of this kind extends naturally to a heterogeneous solubility-type equilibrium too -- for Fe(OH)3(s)⇌Fe3+(aq)+3OH−(aq), the constant [Fe3+][OH−]3 stays fixed at a given temperature, so if [OH−] is deliberately lowered to one-quarter of its previous value, [Fe3+] must rise by a factor of 43=64 to keep the product constant.
KC=kf/kb -- divide the forward rate constant by the backward rate constant.
(a) 20
Step 1. For a reversible reaction, the equilibrium constant is the ratio of the forward rate constant to the backward rate constant: KC=kbkf.
Step 2. Substitute the given values, kf=1.6×10−4 and kb=0.8×10−5:
KC=0.8×10−51.6×10−4=0.8×10−516×10−5=20
(a) 20
Recall KC=kf/kb and divide the given forward and backward rate constants.
- Dividing kb by kf instead of kf by kb, which gives 0.05 (option (c)) instead of 20.
- Mishandling the powers of ten when dividing 1.6×10−4 by 0.8×10−5.
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL2 marksQ.The equilibrium concentrations of NH3, N2 and H2 are 1.8 x 10^-2 M, 1.2 x 10^-2 M and 3 x 10^-2 M respectively. Calculate the equilibrium constant for the formation of NH3 from N2 and H2.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Using Kc = [NH3]^2 / ([N2][H2]^3) with the given equilibrium concentrations, Kc works out to 1.0 x 10^3 (mol^-2 L^2).
The reaction for formation of ammonia is:
N2(g) + 3H2(g) <=> 2NH3(g)
The equilibrium constant expression (law of mass action) is:
Kc = [NH3]^2 / ([N2] . [H2]^3)
Given:
[NH3] = 1.8 x 10^-2 M
[N2] = 1.2 x 10^-2 M
[H2] = 3 x 10^-2 M
Step 1 — numerator:
[NH3]^2 = (1.8 x 10^-2)^2 = 3.24 x 10^-4
Step 2 — denominator:
[H2]^3 = (3 x 10^-2)^3 = 27 x 10^-6 = 2.7 x 10^-5
[N2] x [H2]^3 = (1.2 x 10^-2) x (2.7 x 10^-5) = 3.24 x 10^-7
Step 3 — divide:
Kc = (3.24 x 10^-4) / (3.24 x 10^-7) = 1.0 x 10^3
(Units: Kc = (mol/L)^2 / [(mol/L)(mol/L)^3] = mol^-2 L^2.)
✓Final answerKc = 1.0 x 10^3 mol^-2 L^2 (i.e. Kc = 1000) for the formation of NH3 from N2 and H2 at this equilibrium.
- CBSE 2022Set ANNUAL2 marksQ.Give a balanced chemical equation for the equilibrium reaction for which the equilibrium constant is given by expression Kc = [NH3]^4 [O2]^5 / ([NO]^4 [H2O]^6).
›Reveal solutionSolution
In an equilibrium constant expression, the exponents are the stoichiometric coefficients of that species, with products in the numerator and reactants in the denominator; reading Kc = [NH3]^4[O2]^5 / ([NO]^4[H2O]^6) this way and checking atom balance gives 4NO + 6H2O ⇌ 4NH3 + 5O2.
For a general equilibrium a A + b B ⇌ c C + d D, the equilibrium constant is Kc = [C]^c[D]^d / ([A]^a[B]^b) — products (right side of the equation) appear in the numerator, reactants (left side) in the denominator, each raised to its stoichiometric coefficient.
Here, Kc = [NH3]^4 [O2]^5 / ([NO]^4 [H2O]^6), so:
- Products: 4 NH3 and 5 O2
- Reactants: 4 NO and 6 H2O
Proposed equation: 4NO + 6H2O ⇌ 4NH3 + 5O2
Check atom balance:
- N: left = 4 (from NO); right = 4 (from 4 NH3). Balanced.
- H: left = 6 × 2 = 12 (from 6 H2O); right = 4 × 3 = 12 (from 4 NH3). Balanced.
- O: left = 4 (from NO) + 6 (from H2O) = 10; right = 5 × 2 = 10 (from 5 O2). Balanced.
All atoms balance, confirming the equation.
✓Final answerThe balanced equation is 4NO(g) + 6H2O(g) ⇌ 4NH3(g) + 5O2(g).
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