Multiplying Equilibrium Constants

[Ethan Vuong 3G]

Can someone explain to me why during multistep reactions, when we add them we multiply the constants?

[Michelle Chernyak 1J]

Because we are combining two equations, we now have 2 equilibrium constants, each with a different set of products over a different set of reactants. It would be impossible to add the two equilibrium constants together without altering the reaction (simple math; you'd have to bring it to a common denominator to add and you can't really do that), so instead we multiply the equilibrium constants.

Hope this helps!