K and Q

Brandon Tao 1K
Posts: 100
Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2019 12:15 am

K and Q

What is the difference between K and Q if they are calculated the same way?

sbeall_1C
Posts: 109
Joined: Sat Sep 07, 2019 12:17 am
Been upvoted: 1 time

Re: K and Q

K and Q are calculated in the same way, except that K uses the values from equilibrium and Q uses initial conditions/conditions not at equilibrium. You can use the value of Q to determine which way the the reaction will proceed to reach equilibrium!

Sanjana Borle 2K
Posts: 111
Joined: Fri Aug 09, 2019 12:15 am

Re: K and Q

If you compare Q to K, you can determine whether the reaction is going go to in the forward or reverse reaction to reach equilibrium.

Sidharth D 1E
Posts: 98
Joined: Sat Aug 24, 2019 12:17 am

Re: K and Q

If Q < K, at some time during the reaction, then the forward reaction is favored.
If Q > K, at some time during the reaction, then the reverse reaction is favored.

Dan M -3E
Posts: 101
Joined: Wed Sep 18, 2019 12:19 am

Re: K and Q

K is the equilibrium constant. Q is the same calculation as K, but when the reaction isn't at equilibrium. From the value of Q, you can tell if the reaction is making more products or reactants.

CalvinTNguyen2D
Posts: 102
Joined: Thu Jul 25, 2019 12:16 am

Re: K and Q

K is calculated when the reaction is at equilibrium, but Q is not. Q is a great indicator to figure out which way the reaction is favored.

saigorijavolu2k
Posts: 108
Joined: Sat Sep 28, 2019 12:15 am

Re: K and Q

Q is calculated when the reaction is not at equilibrium and K is. K remains the same.

zfinn
Posts: 106
Joined: Fri Aug 30, 2019 12:16 am

Re: K and Q

Q is the calculation of a system not at equilibrium while K is the calculation of a system at equilibrium (the equilibrium constant).

Hope Hyland 2D
Posts: 50
Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2019 12:16 am

Re: K and Q

Q is the reaction quotient, whereas K is the equilibrium constant. While they are both ratios of product to reactant, K represents the ratio when the reaction is at equilibrium, or when the forward rate of the reaction is equal to the reverse rate (products are being formed at the same rate as reactants). On the other hand, Q is simply the ratio of product to reactant at any given time during the reaction.

Viviana Velasquez
Posts: 97
Joined: Sat Jul 20, 2019 12:15 am

Re: K and Q

K is the equilibrium constant and Q tells you the constant of the equation when it is not at equilibrium. Q helps you judge whether it is a forward or backwards reaction.

505306205
Posts: 97
Joined: Thu Jul 25, 2019 12:15 am
Been upvoted: 1 time

Re: K and Q

K and Q are different because K represents the reaction at equilibrium whereas Q represents the reaction at a point other than at equilibrium.