Difference between K and Q

[Navdeep Kaur 2F]

What is the difference between K and Q?

[Aghigh Banitaba 1B]

K is the equilibrium constant using the equilibrium concentrations and Q is the same calculation done at a time other than equilibrium

[Dylan Cho 3H]

Hey,

K is the equilibrium constant and uses the concentrations of the reactants/products at equilibrium.

Q is the reaction quotient and is used at any point in the reaction besides equilibrium. It's used to see if the reaction has reached equilibrium, and if not, which "side" of the reaction will be favored.

Hope this helps :)

[Isabel Pon 1D]

Hi! Both K and Q are calculated in the same way. However, Q is the reaction quotient representing the ratio between products and reactants at any point in the reaction. Meanwhile, K is the ratio of products to reactants when equilibrium is reached.
If Q < K, then the reaction will move forwards and produce more products.
If Q > K, then the reaction will move backward and toward the reactant's side.
If Q=K, then the reaction is at equilibrium.

[nikita_manyak28]

K is the equilibrium constant and can be calculated by the concentration or the partial pressure values. Q is the constant when the system is not at equilibrium. It is used to help understand how the system would need to change to get back to equilibrium. That is where the moving right and moving left come in.

[Aishwarya Vadivel 2F]

Hi! K is the equilibrium constant that you would find using the equilibrium concentrations ([P]/[R]), whereas Q uses the same formula and same calculations as K but using the concentration values at any other point in the reaction when it isn't at equilibrium.

[Nadia Svejda 3L 14B]

K is the equilibrium constant, or K=[products]/[reactants]. It is the relationship between products and reactants at equilibrium only. Q is also the relationship between products and reactants, but it can describe this ratio both when the system is at equilibrium and when it is not. In fact, a great way to find out whether or not a system is at equilibrium is to see if Q=K (if it does, it is at equilibrium; if it does not, it is not at equilibrium).

[Camila Garcia 1F]

K is the equilibrium constant so there is just one specific value, for when the reaction reaches equilibrium. Q is the reaction quotient and is able to be found anytime during the reaction. Q can measure what is being favored more (products/reactants) when compared to K. If Q is equal to K, then the reaction is at equilibrium.

[Lyladintzer]

Q is a quantity that changes as a reaction system approaches equilibrium. K is the numerical value of Q at the conclusion of the reaction, when equilibrium is reached.

[305568482]

K is the equilibrium constant aka k=products/ reactants so it does not have a specific value when the reaction reaches equilibrium. While Q is the reactant quotient and is used anytime other than equilibrium meaning it can be calculated at any point in time.

[Stephanie Rodas 2C]

K is the products and reactants at equilibrium. Q represents the products and reactants at any point in time; it is the quantity that changes when the reaction gets closer to equilibrium. What this means is that when we compare K and Q, we can determine whether or not the reaction is at equilibrium. If Q=K, then it is at equilibrium.