ICE

[Adam Kramer 1A]

What does ICE stand for and how do we use it efficiently in calculating concentrations? I missed this lecture and I don't completely understand why it is useful.

[Kevin Xu 4F]

ICE stands for Initial, change, and equilibrium molar concentrations of a reaction at equilibrium. It is useful because it is an easy and quick way to store what concentrations are known and unknown with respect to a change that can be directly plugged into the equilibrium constant expression and then solved algebraically.

[Justin Quan 4I]

Here's a general set up for the ICE table. Hope this helps.

[christabellej 1F]

Basically, the ICE table is a way to calculate the predicted quantitative values of a reaction at equilibrium. You would start by balancing the reaction first, and then in the first row (I), writing down the initial concentration or partial pressures of the reactants and products. You would then express the change (C) in terms of x and then use K given and E (concentration/ partial pressure) at equilibrium to find x.