Properties of the Equilibrium Constant
The equilibrium constant (K) has specific properties that describe its behavior in chemical systems.
Key Properties
- Temperature Dependent
- K changes with temperature but is independent of concentration or pressure
- Unitless in Ideal Cases
- K is often treated as dimensionless, though concentration terms have units
- Reaction Direction
- K > 1 → products favored
- K < 1 → reactants favored
- Inverse Reaction
- For the reverse reaction, K_reverse = 1 / K_forward
- 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