How to Solve Equilibrium Problems

Equilibrium problems are a common type of problem in Chemistry which involve the
equilibrium constant K. More specifically, Kc is used when the equilibrium constant is
written in terms of concentrations, and Kp is appropriate for a gas reaction if partial
pressures of gases are given.
For a reaction

aA +bB cC + dD

Kc is defined to be
[C]c [D]d
Kc =
[A]a[B]b (at equilibrium)

where all concentrations are equilibrium concentrations. The double arrow in the
equation indicates the reaction goes in both directions (and never reaches completion).
At equilibrium, the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are equal, and there is no
further change in concentration. Kc is a constant for a given reaction at a given
temperature.

Methods for solving equilibrium problems are best shown with examples.
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Example 1

Calculate the equilibrium constant Kc at 25 oC for the reaction

2 NOCl(g) 2 NO(g) + Cl2(g)

using the following information. In one experiment 2.00 mol of NOCl is placed in a 1.00
-L flask, and the concentration of NO after equilibrium is achieved is 0.66 mol/L.

Method:
(a) Calculate the initial concentration of NOCl from the information given.
(b) Form an equilibrium table and fill in all known quantities. Represent unknown
quantities with variables. Use the information in the table to calculate the
concentration of NOCl and Cl2 at equilibrium.
(c) Form the Kc equation and fill in all known information. Calculate Kc.
Solution:
Step(a): The initial concentration of NOCl is

2.0 mol
= 2.00 M
[NOCl]0 = 1.00 L

Step(b): The equilibrium table is:

Balanced Equation 2 NOCl(g) 2 NO(g) + Cl2(g)

Initial Concentrations (M) 2.00 0 0
Change (M) - 2x 2x x
Equilibrium Concentrations (M) (2.00 - 2x) 2x = 0.66 x

From the table we have

[NO] = 2x = 0.66 M
x = 0.33 M
Thus

[NOCl] = (2.00 - 2x) M = (2.00 - 2(0.33)) M = 1.34 M

[Cl2] = x = 0.33 M

Step(c): We now have the information we need to calculate Kc:

[NO]2[Cl ] (0.66)2 (0.33)

Kc = 2
2
= = 0.080
[NOCl] (at equilibrium) (1.34)2

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Example 2

A sample of 0.0020 moles of F2 was sealed into a 2.0 L reaction vessel and heated to
1000 K to study the dissociation into F atoms:
F2 2F

At this temperature, Kc = 1.210-4. What are [F2] and [F] at equilibrium? What is the
percent dissociation of F2?

Method:
The steps are:
(a) Calculate the initial concentration of F2 from mole and volume information given.
(b) Form an equilibrium table and fill in all known quantities.
(c) Form the Kc equation and fill in all known information. Solve for the unknown.

2
(d) Calculate results asked for in the problem.

Solution:
Step (a): The initial concentration of F2 is

0.0020 mol
2.0 L = 0.0010 M
[F2]0 =

Step (b): The equilibrium table is given below. Note that as the reaction proceeds,
reactants are consumed and products are formed in proportion to their stoichiometric
coefficients.

Balanced Equation F2 2F
Initial Concentration (M) 0.0010 0
Change (M) -x 2x
Equilibrium Concentration (M) 0.0010 - x 2x

Step (c): Next we form the Kc equation and fill in equilibrium values. Note that [F] =
(2x) and that the entire quantity is squared:

4
[F]2
(2x )2 4x 2
Kc = 1.2 10 = = =
[F2 ] (at eq) (0.0010 x ) (0.0010 x )


(0.0010 - x)(1.210-4) = 4 x2

Next we rearrange the equation above to quadratic form, a x2 + b x + c = 0:

4 x2 + 1.210-4 x - 1.210-7 = 0

In our case,

a = 4, b = 1.210-4, and c = - 1.210-7

and, using the quadratic formula, we have:

b b 2 4ac (1.2 10 4 ) (1.2 104 )2 4(4)(1.2 107 )
x = =
2a 2(4)

4 6
1.2 10 1.934 10
x =
8

3
This gives x+ = 1.5910-4 and x- = - 1.8910-4. Clearly, only the positive root makes sense
physically; there is no such thing as a (-) concentration! Thus x = x+ = 1.5910-4.

Step (d): Now we are ready to calculate the results asked for in the problem. For this
we go back to the last line of our equilibrium table, and use the value of x calculated
above to obtain

[F2] = (0.0010 - x) = (0.0010 - 1.5910-4) = 8.410-4

[F] = 2 x = 2 (1.5910-4) = 3.210-4

The equation for percent dissociation is:

quantity dissociated
100%
% dissociation = initial amount

In this case,
% dissociation of F2 =

= 15.9 %

16 %

Approximate Methods
In many cases calculations may be simplified by making approximations. For
example, if Kc is very small (i.e., < 5.010-5) and the initial reactant concentration c0 is
fairly large (i.e., c0 > 1000Kc ), to a good approximation

Use of this type of approximation eliminates the need to solve quadratic equations in
many cases.