CHEMISTRY COMMUNITY

Are there any tricks for knowing when to use an ICE table?

I just think of using ICE tables whenever I see a question mention weak acids or bases, when you need to calculate equilibrium concentrations of anything, or when they give you the equilibrium constant.

Make sure to always remember that the mole proportion is very important when inserting "x" (the change in molarity). C part of ICE!

Also whenever a question specifically gives you an initial value and a Kc value! you can kinda guess you'd have to end up with a quadratic equation to solve the question after that

If the problem is asking you to solve for the pH, pOH, or concentration of a reaction involving a weak acid or base, you use an ICE table because you can't assume 100% dissociation. You can tell if the reaction involves a weak acid by looking at the molecules or by the acidic constant if it is less than 10^(-3).

Most of the time you would use ICE tables when solving a problem with weak acids and bases.