HW 1: Question #3

[Shaniya Kerns 4D]

At a certain temperature, the equilibrium constant, Kc, for this reaction is 53.3.
H2(g)+I2(g)-->2HI(g) Kc=53.3
At this temperature, 0.300 mol I2 were placed in a 1.00 L container to react. What concentration of HI is present at equilibrium?
How do I know when making the ice table when x will be negative or positive?

[Soumya 2D]

You always assume product concentrations are 0 initially, so x would be positive for products and negative for reactants.

[Landon Ta-Tran 3K]

You determine the sign of x by what is being used and what is being created. You are initially given H2 and I2, so that is what will be used to make HI. X is the value that relates the moles consumed of H2 and I2 to the moles created of HI. Therefore, x value of H2 and I2 will be consumed while x value of HI will be made. This makes the x for H2 and I2 negative and the x for HI positive.