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Heterogeneous Equilibria

Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2020 8:33 pm
by aphung1E
For a heterogeneous equilibrium, what expression is utilized to find the equilibrium constant?

Re: Heterogeneous Equilibria

Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2020 9:02 pm
by Lindsey Chheng 1E
aphung1E wrote:For a heterogeneous equilibrium, what expression is utilized to find the equilibrium constant?

K is always equal to [Products]/[Reactants]. Heterogeneous Equilibria just means that at least one of the components in the reaction, whether it be a reactant or a product, is in a different phase (gas, liquid, solid, aqueous). For Heterogeneous Equilibria, solids and liquids are not included when solving for K.

Re: Heterogeneous Equilibria

Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2020 9:04 pm
by Sebastian Lee 1L
For heterogeneous equilibria, you will use the same general equation to find the equilibrium constant as for homogeneous equilibria: . However, in heterogeneous equilibria, you will NOT include any solids or pure liquids in the formula. I believe this is because they don't really affect the concentrations of reactants/products at equilibrium and it doesn't really make sense to talk about the concentration of a pure solid/liquid. You'll only include gases or aqueous solutions.

As an example, if you were given the chemical reaction: , the equation for the equilibrium constant would just be because you don't include the solids or liquids in the equation.