Exp. 20: Spectrophotometric Analysis: Determination of the Equilibrium

Constant for a Reaction

Exp. 20 - video (time: 41:13 minutes)

2

Many chemical reactions do not completely convert reactants to products. Stop somewhere between no rxn and complete rxn.

A + B C + D

some left some formed

reversible (both directions)

Chemical EquilibriumPreviously we have assumed that chemical reactions results in complete conversion of reactants to products:

A + B C + DNo A or B remaining or possibly an excess of A or B but not both and eventually reaction stops.

exchange, constant conc., Ratef = Rater “equilibrium”

A + B C + D

A + B C + D

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Chemical Equilibrium• Therefore, many reactions do not go to

completion but rather form a mixture of products and unreacted reactants, in a dynamic equilibrium.– A dynamic equilibrium consists of a forward reaction, in which

substances react to give products, and a reverse reaction, in which products react to give the original reactants.

– Chemical equilibrium is the state reached by a reaction mixture when the rates of the forward and reverse reactions have become equal.

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Graphically we can represent this A + B C + D

The concentrations and reaction rate (less collisions, less component) of A and B decreases over time as the concentrations and reaction rate of C and D increases (more collisions, more component) over time until the rates are equal and the concentrations of each components reaches a constant. This occurs at what we call equilibrium -- Rf = Rr.

If the rates are equal, then there must be a relationship to show this.

3H2 + CO CH4 + H2O

3H2 + CO CH4 + H2O rate decreases over time

CH4 + H2O 3H2 + CO rate increases over time

Rf=Rr

Ebbing, D. D.; Gammon, S. D. General Chemistry, 8th ed., Houghton Mifflin, New York, NY, 2005.

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For the reverse reaction we have,

C + D A + B Rr = kr [C][D]

We know at equil that Rf = Rr ;therefore, we can set these two expressions as equal

kf [A][B] = kr [C][D]

Rearrange to put constants on one side we get

]][[]][[BADC

kk

Kr

f

If we assume these reactions are elementary rxns (based on collisions), we can write the rate laws directly from the reaction:

A + B C + D Rf = kf [A][B]

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Constant divided by constant just call a new constant K. This ratio is given a special name and symbol called equilibrium constant K relating to the equilibrium condition at a certain temperature (temp dependent) for a particular reaction relating conc of each component. This is basically a comparison between forward and reverse reaction rates. At equilibrium, the ratio of conc of species must satisfy K.

]][[]][[BADC

kk

Kr

f

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The Equilibrium Constant• Every reversible system has its own “position of

equilibrium”- K- under any given set of conditions.

– The ratio of products produced to unreacted reactants for any given reversible reaction remains constant under constant conditions of pressure and temperature. If the system is disturbed, the system will shift and all the concentrations of the components will change until equilibrium is re-established which occurs when the ratio of the new concentrations equals "K". Different constant conc but ratio same as before.

– The numerical value of this ratio is called the equilibrium constant for the given reaction, K.

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The Equilibrium Constant• The equilibrium-constant expression for a reaction is

obtained by multiplying the equil concentrations ( or partial pressures) of products, dividing by the equil concentrations (or partial pressures) of reactants, and raising each concentration to a power equal to its coefficient in the balanced chemical equation.

dDcC bBaA

ba

dc

BADCK

][][][][

bB

aA

dD

cC

p PPPPK

)()()()(

c

The molar concentration of a substance is denoted by writing its formula in square brackets for aq solutions. For gases can put Pa - atm. As long as use M or atm, K is unitless; liquids and solids = 1; setup same for all K’s (Ka, Kb, etc.)Temp dependent; any changes, ratio will still equal K when equil established

Fe3+ + SCN- FeSCN2+ K?

eqeq

eq

SCNFeFeSCNK

][][][

3

2

Starting, [ ]o MFe3+ MSCN- 0Change,

[ ]-x -x +x

Equilibrium,[ ]eq

MFe3+ - x MSCN- - x x

Fe3+ + SCN- FeSCN2+

In our experiment, we will determine the K for the following reaction:

If we can determine x, we can solve for K for this reaction.

First part of experiment involves making a calibration curve for [FeSCN2+]

] x- M][ x- M[]x[

][][][

SCNFe3

3

2

eqeq

eq

SCNFeFeSCNK

Calibration Curve

We basically force the [FeSCN2+] to equal the initial [SCN-] by using a 1:1000 ratio of SCN- to Fe3+

pg 139: 20.00 mL of 2.00 x 10-4 M KSCN 20.00 mL of 0.200 M Fe(NO3)3

Therefore, [SCN-]o diluted within rxn = [FeSCN2+]eq

for calibration only not actual K experiment

Calibration Curve

[SCN-]o = [FeSCN2+]eq within rxn (meaning taking into account dilution)

No.1 Standard (pg 139)

20.00 mL of 2.00 x 10-4 M KSCN20.00 mL of 0.200 M Fe(NO3)3

CV = CV

(2.00 x 10-4 M SCN-) (20.00 mL) = CSCN- diluted No. 1 (40.00 mL)

[CSCN-diluted No.1] = 1.00 x 10-4 M = [FeSCN2+]No. 1

No. 2 standard(1.00 x 10-4 M SCN-) (10.00 mL) = CSCN- diluted No. 2 (20.00 mL)

[CSCN-diluted No. 2] = 5.00 x 10-5 M = [FeSCN2+]No. 2

No. 3 is done same way and then measure the absorbance at 460 nm (watch filter on spec 20) of each for calibration curve.Tip for plotting: make the three conc the same power of 10 and label axis conc x 10-5 M.

1.00 x 10-4

5.00 x 10-5

2.50 x 10-5

10.0 x 10-5

blank: 0.00 M 0.00

Preparation of solutions for K experiment

pg 139:Fe3+ solution – CV = CV Make solutions No. 1 -3 from stock 0.200 M; skip No.4

0.100

0.0500

0.0250

Preparation of solutions for K experimentpg. 140:Initial [SCN-]o

same dilution across (5 mL SCN- and 5 mL Fe3+) [SCN-]o = 1.00 x 10-4 M (skip No.4)

Initial [Fe3+]o

same dilution but different stock of Fe3+ (5 mL/5 mL)[Fe3+]o = ½ [Fe3+ solution pg 139] (skip No. 4)

[SCN-]o

[Fe3+]o

1.00 x 10-4 1.00 x 10-4 1.00 x 10-4

0.100 M 0.0500 M 0.0250 M

0.0500 M 0.0250 M 0.0125 M

Determination of K-Obtain calibration curve from first three solutions (top of pg 139); this plot will allow you to determine the [FeSCN2+]eq for each of the three experimental mixtures.Mix solutions for exp 1 (pg 140), obtain absorbance from spec 20 at 460 nm, read absorbance off calibration curve for [FeSCN2+]eq; technically the x in K expression

Determination of KBottom table pg 140[Fe3+]eq = [Fe3+]o – x = [Fe3+]o – [FeSCN2+]eq

[SCN-]eq = [SCN-]o – x = [SCN-]o – [FeSCN2+]eq

-Plug values into K expression and solve for K-Repeat for exp 2 and 3

eq

eq

eq

spec 20

graph = “x”[Fe3+]o – [FeSCN2+]eq = 0.0500 – graphexp1

[SCN-]o – [FeSCN2+]eq = 1.00 x 10-4 – graphexp1

exp1 exp 2 exp 3

eqeq

eq

SCNFeFeSCNK

][][][

3

2

0.0250 – graphexp2 0.0125 – graphexp3

spec 20 spec 20

graph graph

1.00 x 10-4 – graphexp2 1.00 x 10-4 – graphexp3

eqeq

eq

SCNFeFeSCN

][][][

3

2

eqeq

eq

SCNFeFeSCN

][][][

3

2

Goal:Average K for reaction and std dev.Only computer plot required but make sure change axis to some small increment.

Chemicals:Take only 45 mL of each component.