## Exponents and the K constant

Vincent Leong 2B
Posts: 207
Joined: Fri Aug 09, 2019 12:15 am

### Exponents and the K constant

Why do we use the coefficients in a reaction as exponents in the K constant? What do they imply?

Letty Liu 2C
Posts: 105
Joined: Fri Aug 09, 2019 12:16 am

### Re: Exponents and the K constant

We use exponents to indicate there are two moles of something reacting to form the molecule. Please correct me if I’m wrong!

William Francis 2E
Posts: 101
Joined: Wed Sep 18, 2019 12:20 am

### Re: Exponents and the K constant

We don't need to know how the K equation, [products]x/[reactants]y is derived. I do not believe that making the coefficients exponents has any obvious conceptual implication.

Chantel_2I
Posts: 109
Joined: Sat Sep 07, 2019 12:19 am

### Re: Exponents and the K constant

We are essentially multiplying the concentrations of all the products. So if you have R1+R2 <-> 2P, it's like having P + P, so to find K, we multiply [P]x[P], so [P]^2.

Bryan Chen 1H
Posts: 58
Joined: Mon Jun 17, 2019 7:24 am

### Re: Exponents and the K constant

i dont think you need to know how its derived but prof. jukka keranen teaches you how K is derived in his ls30A lecture if youre interested.