Rate and equilibrium constants

$K = \frac{k_{forward}}{k_{reverse}}$

allyz1F
Posts: 58
Joined: Sat Jul 22, 2017 3:00 am

Rate and equilibrium constants

Do the same conditions change both the equilibrium constant and the rate constant in the same ways? As in if one property affects one, can it be automatically deduced that it affects the other?

Christiana2D
Posts: 23
Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 7:06 am

Re: Rate and equilibrium constants

No, there are some factors that will affect the rate constant of a reaction but not the equilibrium constant. For example, a catalyst may increase the rate of a reaction, but the equilibrium constant will stay the same. This is because the equilibrium constant is the proportion of the forward and reverse rates which will both be affected equally. On the other hand, factors like temperature CAN affect both the equilibrium constant and the rate constant.

Clarissa Molina 1D
Posts: 55
Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 7:04 am

Re: Rate and equilibrium constants

Do we use K=k/k' when there is only one step in a mechanism and K=(k1/k1') x (k2/k2') x ... when there are multiple steps?

allyz1F
Posts: 58
Joined: Sat Jul 22, 2017 3:00 am

Re: Rate and equilibrium constants

Clarissa Molina 1D wrote:Do we use K=k/k' when there is only one step in a mechanism and K=(k1/k1') x (k2/k2') x ... when there are multiple steps?

Yes that is correct