Reaction Quotient and Equilibrium Constant
This page delves into the concepts of reaction quotient (Qr) and equilibrium constant (K), which are essential for understanding and predicting the spontaneous evolution of chemical systems.
The reaction quotient Qr is defined as the ratio of product concentrations to reactant concentrations, each raised to the power of their stoichiometric coefficients. Different types of Qr are introduced, including Qr,i (initial) and Qr,eq (at equilibrium).
Vocabulary: Qr = [C]^c × [D]^d / [A]^a × [B]^b, where [X] represents the concentration of species X and a, b, c, d are stoichiometric coefficients.
The equilibrium constant K is defined as equal to Qr,eq and is independent of the initial composition of the system, depending only on temperature.
Highlight: The comparison between Qr,i and K allows for the prediction of the spontaneous direction of a chemical reaction.
The page concludes with a diagram illustrating how the comparison of Qr,i and K determines the direction of spontaneous evolution:
- If Qr,i < K, the reaction proceeds in the direct sense
- If Qr,i > K, the reaction proceeds in the indirect sense
- If Qr,i = K, the system is at equilibrium
This information is crucial for solving exercices corrigés related to the evolution spontanée d'un système chimique.