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6.3: Equilibrium Expressions Involving Pressures

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    When calculating equilibrium constants of solutions, the concentrations of each component in the solution are used to calculate K, which is the equilibrium constant. When working with concentrations, the equilibrium constant is designated as Kc. However, when working with a mixture of gases, concentrations are not used, but instead the gases' partial pressures. By first calculating the equilibrium constant in terms of pressure, designated Kp, Kc can then be calculated by using a simple formula.

    How do you begin writing the equilibrium constant for a mixture of gases?

    To explain this clearly, let us look at a simple example, the reaction:

    2NH3(g) <---> N2(g) + 3H2(g).

    1) First, each component of the mixture in the equilibrium constant is written in terms of their activities. The activity of each component is the partial pressure of each component divided by their partial pressure "reference-states." Writing the equilibrium constant in terms of partial pressures requires it to be referred to as Kp.

    K = ( (aN2)(aH2)3 / (aNH3)2) eq

    aN2 = PN2/Po

    aH2 = PH2/Po

    aNH3 = PNH3/Po

    2) Next, take the activities, showed in terms of pressure, of the products raised to the power of their coefficients, and divided by the activities of the reactants. The activities of the reactants are also raised to the power of their coefficients. To simplify the expression, the partial pressure "reference-state" of each component can be divided out.

    Kp = ( (PN2/Po)(PH2/Po)3 / (PNH3/Po)2 ) eq

    Po ( (PN2)(PH2)3/(PNH3)2) eq

    3) To relate the pressures of this expression to concentrations, the ideal gas law is used. The ideal gas law is PV=nRT, where P is the pressure, V is the volume, n is the number of moles of the substnace, R is the constant 0.08206 L atm/K mol, and T is the temperature in Kelvins. By inverting the ideal gas law equation and solving for the concentration, n/V, or moles per liter, the concentrations of the gases are expressed by their partial pressures divided by RT.

    {N2} = n/v = PN2/RT

    {H2} = n/V = PH2/RT

    {NH3} = n/V = PNH3/RT

    4) Now, since we have solved for the concentrations of each gas component, we write them in terms of concentration activities. This is the concentrations of each component divided by the concentration reference state.

    aN2 = {N2}/co = (PN2/RT)/co

    aH2 = {H2}/co = (PH2/RT)/co

    aNH3 = {NH3}/co = (PNH3/RT)/co

    The last and final step is entering these activities into the expression we earlier derived in step 2 and dividing out RT.

    Kp = Po( ({N2}RT)({H2}RT)3/({NH3}RT)2 ) eq

    Kp = (Po/RT)({N2}{H2}3/{NH3}2) eq

    This gives the equilibrium constant expression for a mixture of gases (Kp).

    Kp and Kc can be related by setting the two equations equal to each other and divided out the reference states. This gives the simple formula:

    Kp = Kc(RT)difference in coefficients of gas components only

    Please Note:

    Po is the partial pressure reference-state and it equals about 1 atm

    co is the concentration reference-state and it equals about 1mol/L

    eq is the term used to indicate that the components are at equilibrium

    {x} is the concentration of the component x where x is a variable used to indicate a substance

    Equilibrium constant expression do not include those components in a reaction that are pure solids or liquids (please refer to the corresponding internal link below)

    Practice Problems

    1) Gas A and Gas B react to form Gas C. The reaction performed can be written as A(g)+B(g)

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    C(g). At equilibrium, the partial pressures of A, B, and C are 1 atm, 0.50 atm, and 0.75 atm respectively. Find Kp for the reaction.

    Solution:

    First, write out the equilibrium constant expression for Kp. Kp= Po(

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    )eq

    Remember that Po= 1 bar which is essentially equal to 1 atm. Next, plug in the partial pressures for the corresponding gases.

    Kp=

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    )

    =1.5

    2) A(g), at 750 mmHg, reacts with B(g), at 760 mmHg, to form C(g). Kp for the reaction is 1.5 X 10-5 and the reaction at equilibrium can be written A(g)+B(g)

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    2C(g). Find the partial pressure of C.

    Solution

    First set up the equilibrium constant expression for Kp. Kp= Po(

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    )eq

    C is raised to the power of 2 since 2 is the coefficient of C. Since we know Kp we can subsitute that into the equation. Also, convert the partial pressure of A and B to atm. PA= 750 mmHg X

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    =0.98684 & PB= 1 atm

    1.5 X 105 =

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    (1.5 X10-5)(0.98684)= C2

    sqrt(1.48026X10-5)=C

    C= 3.8474147X10-3 or C= 3.9X10-3

    3) For the following reaction at equilibrium 2SO2(g)+ O2

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    2SO3(g) Kp is 3.4 at 1000K. What is Kc for the reaction?

    Solution:

    We know that Kp=Kc(RT)(Difference in coefficients of gaseous products and reactants)

    We also know Kp= 3.4, R is a constant which is 0.08206L atm mol-1K-1, T=1000K

    (RT) is raised to the power of (Difference in coefficients of gaseous products and reactants) so since 2SO2(g)+ 1O2

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    2SO3(g) (Difference in coefficients of gaseous products and reactants)= (2)-(2+1)= -1

    Rewrite the equation, Kp=Kc(RT)(Difference in coefficients of gaseous products and reactants), to solve for Kc and subsitute in the values. ^Kc=

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    Kc= 2.79X102

    4) For the following reaction at equilibrium, N2(g)+ 3H2(g)

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    2NH3(g), Kp is 2.25X10-6. If the values of the partial pressures of N2 and NH3 are 3.5X10-3 and 2.0X10-5 respectively, what is the partial pressure of H2?

    Solution

    Set up the equilibrium constant expression for Kp. Kp= Kp= Po

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    eq

    Substitute the values in to the correct places.

    2.25X10-6=

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    =
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    =0.0507936508

    Take the cubed root of the number to find the Partial pressure of H2

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    =0.37 atm

    5) 1 mol of A and 1 mol of B are placed in a 2.0 L flask. The following reaction at equilibrium is established at 500K. A(g)+B(g)

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    C(g) Kp= 15.0 For the equilibrium established, find the partial pressure of C.

    Solution

    First, we must find the partial pressures of A and B. We know that by using P=

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    , we can say PA=PB=
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    =
    20.515

    Now create an ICE table.

    A(g) + B(g)

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    C(g)

    I 20.515 20.515 0

    C -x -x +x

    E (20.515-x) (20.515-x) (x)

    Now set up the equilibrium constant expression for Kp= 15.0=

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    15(20.515-x)2= x Use FOIL

    15(420.865225-41.03x+x2)= x distribute & multiply by 15

    15x2-615.45x+6312.978375=x subtract the x to make the equation equal to 0

    15x2-616.45x+6312.978375=0 Use the quadratic formula

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    and
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    a=15 b=-616.45 c= 6312.978375

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    and
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    We find that there are two solutions. PC= 19.38 or 21.7

    19.38 is the correct solution since 21.7 is too large.

    References

    1. Petrucci, Ralph H., et al. General Chemistry: Principles and Modern Applications. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2007.

    Contributors and Attributions

    • Kathryn Rashel
    • Lisa Peterson
    • Kyle Catabay (UCD)


    6.3: Equilibrium Expressions Involving Pressures is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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