Skip to main content

Properties of the Equilibrium Constant

The equilibrium constant (K) has specific properties that describe its behavior in chemical systems.

Key Properties

  1. Temperature Dependent
    • K changes with temperature but is independent of concentration or pressure
  2. Unitless in Ideal Cases
    • K is often treated as dimensionless, though concentration terms have units
  3. Reaction Direction
    • K > 1 → products favored
    • K < 1 → reactants favored
  4. Inverse Reaction
    • For the reverse reaction, K_reverse = 1 / K_forward
  5. Multiple Step Reactions
    • For a reaction that occurs in steps: K_overall = K₁ × K₂ × … × K_n

Example

For the reaction: A + B ⇌ C + D

  • If K = 100 → strongly favors products
  • Reverse reaction K = 1/100 → favors reactants

Importance

  • Helps predict equilibrium composition
  • Essential for chemical engineering and industrial processes
  • Provides insight into reaction manipulation via Le Châtelier’s Principle

Have Questions?

If you have any questions, or are looking for more resources, you can join our Discord Server