Different ways of approaching 10.23

[Kayla Denton 1A]

Hi! The way I approached question 10.23 in the textbook (written below) is different than the approach in the solutions manual. I was wondering if my way was valid as well?
Thanks!

[Niharika Reddy 1D]

I think the way you approached it is valid as well, but since they gave the reaction quotient Q in the problem, they probably wanted us to find K to compare the two values and determine the direction the reaction will have a tendency to go in from there.

As you said, both methods yield the same answer, but since Q was given, I feel like it must've been given for the purpose of comparing it with K after calculating K.

[Chem_Mod]

Niharika is correct, the two methods are actually exactly the same.




So if Q/K < 1, log will be negative and process is spontaneous
If Q/K > 1, log is positive and process is not spontaneous