ICE box
Moderators: Chem_Mod, Chem_Admin
-
- Posts: 100
- Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2019 12:16 am
ICE box
When calculating the change in molar concentration with the quadratic equation, and the results are one positive number and one negative number, would there ever be a circumstance where the negative number is also an acceptable answer?
-
- Posts: 106
- Joined: Fri Aug 09, 2019 12:17 am
Re: ICE box
The acceptable answers would be any that has it so that the equilibrium concentrations or partial pressures of the reactants or products are positive.
-
- Posts: 51
- Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2019 12:16 am
-
- Posts: 102
- Joined: Wed Sep 18, 2019 12:15 am
Re: ICE box
If the solutions to the problem are the direct concentrations of a substance, there is no way the answer can be negative, as you cannot have negative concentration. I'm not really sure if this would ever come up, but the solution could be negative if this results in the desired concentration is still positive.
-
- Posts: 50
- Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2019 12:16 am
Re: ICE box
There can never be negative concentration values, so the only answers you would want to use for your answers are the ones that come out positive after solving the quadratic formula.
-
- Posts: 104
- Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2019 12:17 am
Re: ICE box
It can only be the positive number as there is no such thing as a negative concentration
-
- Posts: 125
- Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2019 12:17 am
Re: ICE box
AlyssaYeh_1B wrote:When calculating the change in molar concentration with the quadratic equation, and the results are one positive number and one negative number, would there ever be a circumstance where the negative number is also an acceptable answer?
It's all about context. If the value of x is negative, however in the calculation for the concentration results in a positive value, then yes, x is negative. It really doesn't matter what x is (positive or negative) as long as the resulting concentrations found for the reactants and the products are POSITIVE.
-
- Posts: 51
- Joined: Sat Aug 24, 2019 12:16 am
-
- Posts: 107
- Joined: Wed Sep 18, 2019 12:16 am
Re: ICE box
There is no such thing as a negative concentration, therefore this value should be disregarded and only the positive value should be used.
Return to “Equilibrium Constants & Calculating Concentrations”
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 11 guests