Principle of Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM 1102 LAB)
Department of Chemistry
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CHEMICAL EQUILIBRUM
Torres Dan Paul Aaron B., Patungan, Joeffrey U., Santos, Rikki Rose A., Astudillo, Danielle Abish G., Lugtu,
Jerliza Mae M., and Santiago, Rose Angelyn G.
Abstract: A reaction in which reactants convert to products and products convert to reactants in the same reaction vessel
naturally leads to an equilibrium, regardless of how complicated the reaction is and regardless of the nature of the kinetic
processes for the forward and reverse reactions. We call this relationship the equilibrium-constant expression (or merely the
equilibrium expression) for the reaction. A solution of distilled water, KNCS, and Fe(NO3)3 was added with 1 M Fe(NO3)3,
1M KNCS, 0.1M SnCl2, 0.1M AgNO3, 0.1M Na2HPO4, and 1M NH3, separately in each well of spotting plate. Another
solution of distilled water, KNCS, and Fe(NO3)3 in three different test tubes was subjected into hot-water bath and cold water
bath and the last is at room temperature. The data was observed and recorded. As the temperature increases, the red color of
the products faded, indicating an equilibrium shift to the left as more reactants were formed, and the reaction was exothermic.
if the is initially reddish and the equilibrium shift to the right, the solution becomes darker red, while if the equilibrium is
shifts to the left the solution becomes lighter red or perhaps straw-yellow.
Keywords: chemical equilibrium, reaction, concentration, volume, temperature, catalyst
reaction. The principal effect of the temperature on the
equilibrium is in changing the equilibrium constant. A
Introduction catalyst will change the mechanisms
Chemical equilibrium, a condition in the course of a
reversible chemical reaction in which no net change in the
amounts of reactants and products occurs. A reversible
chemical reaction is one in which the products, as soon as of a reaction to lower the activation energy. It lowers the
they are formed, react to produce the original reactants. activation energy by an equal amount for both the forward
At equilibrium, the two opposing reactions go on at equal and reverse reaction ([Link], 2019).
rates, or velocities, hence there is no net change in the
amounts of substances involved. At this point the reaction
Le Châtelier’s principle states that if a system at
may be completed; i.e., for some specified reaction
equilibrium is disturbed, the equilibrium will shift to
condition, the maximum conversion of reactants to products
minimize the disturbing influence. By this principle, if a
has been attained (Britannica, 2016).
reactant or product is added to a system at equilibrium, the
equilibrium will shift to consume the added substance. The
An equilibrium constant expression includes terms effects of removing reactants or products and of changing
only for reactants and products whose concentrations and/or the pressure or volume of a reaction can be similarly
partial pressures CHANGE during a chemical reaction. If an deduced (Brown, 2012).
equilibrium system is subjected to a change in temperature,
pressure, or concentration of a reacting species, the system Materials and Methods
will respond with a new equilibrium state. When the volume
of an equilibrium mix of gases is REDUCED, a net change Materials and Reagent
will occur in the direction that produces FEWER MOLES
OF GAS. When the volume of an equilibrium mix of gases The glassware/apparatus such as; test tubes, test
is INCREASED, a net change will occur in the direction tube brush, test tube rack, test tube holder, pipette, beaker,
that produces MORE MOLES OF GAS ([Link], aspirator, dropper, spotting plate, tripod, Bunsen burner and
2019). wire gauze were provided by the Chemistry laboratory in
Central Luzon States University.
Adding an inert gas to the constant-volume mixture:
this has an effect of the TOTAL pressure, but the partial 1 M Fe(NO3)3, 1M KNCS, 0.1M SnCl2, 0.1M
pressures will remain the same, so the equilibrium AgNO3, 0.1M Na2HPO4, and 1M NH3 were the reagents
conditions are unaffected. INCREASING the temperature used and provided by the Chemistry Laboratory in Central
will shift the equilibrium in the direction of the Luzon State University.
ENDOTHERMIC reaction. DECREASING the temperature
will cause a shift in the direction of the EXOTHERMIC External Stress
Principle of Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM 1102 LAB)
Department of Chemistry
-2-
In a 100 mL beaker, 25 mL distilled water was poured formed
and 1 drop of 1M Fe(NO3)3 and 1 drop of 1M KNCS was Na2HPO4 White in color Ag+ + NCS- ⇌
added. In spotting plate with 7 wells, 3 drops of solution No precipitate formed AgNCS(s)
was place in each well. 1 drop of 1M Fe(NO 3)3 was added in NH3 White in color NH3 + H2O ⇌
the solution on the first well, 1 drop of 1M KNCS was Reddish precipitate NH4+ + OH-
added in the solution on the second well, 1 drop of 0.1M formed Fe + 3OH- ⇌
+3
SnCl2 was added in the solution on the third well, 1 drop of Fe(OH)3 (s)
0.1M AgNO3 was added in the solution on the fourth well, 1 (FeNO3)3 Red in color
drop of 0.1M Na2HPO4 was added in the solution on the and
fifth well, 1 drop of 1M NH3 was added in the solution on KNCS
the sixth well. (7th Well)
Effect of Temperature Table 1 shows the observation of the comparison of the
solution of distilled water, KNCS, and Fe(NO3)3 in the
Four mL (4 ml) solution of distilled water, 1M seventh well, to the six well with 1 M Fe(NO 3)3, 1M KNCS,
Fe(NO3)3 and 1M KNCS was placed in 3 test tubes, each. 0.1M SnCl2, 0.1M AgNO3, 0.1M Na2HPO4, and 1M NH3,
Set aside the first test tube for comparison. The second test each well. Addition of AgNO3 shows a significant different
tube was placed into a hot water bath with 80 oC, and the from the original solution in which the color was changed
third test tube was placed into ice water bath. from reddish into white color and formed white precipitate.
On the other hand, Addition of (FeNO 3)3 also shows a
Data Gathering significant different from the original solution in which the
color was blood red and darker from the original.
Observed and compared what happened on the solution
in each well after added with 1 M Fe(NO 3)3, 1M KNCS, According to Olmstead (2017), if the is initially
0.1M SnCl2, 0.1M AgNO3, 0.1M Na2HPO4, and 1M NH3. reddish and the equilibrium shift to the right, the solution
becomes darker red, while if the equilibrium is shifts to the
Compared the second and third test tube into first test left the solution becomes lighter red or perhaps straw-
tube after subjected into different temperature. The data was yellow.
recorded.
Waste Management Table 2. Effect of Temperature
Test Tube Observation
All generated wastes were disposed at the Inorganic Chemical
(Comparison to
waste container. Equation
the 1st tube)
High More transparent
Results and Discussion Temperature compared to the 1st
(Endothermic tube after 6 mins of Fe+3 + NCS– ⇌
Table 1. External Stress ) submerging in a hot FeNCS+2 + heat
Well Observation water bath
Chemical
(Comparison to the
Equation Low No changes occur
7th Well)
Temperature after 6 mins of Fe+3 + NCS– ⇌
(FeNO3)3 Blood Red in color
Fe + NCS ⇌
+3 –
(Exothermic) submerging in a FeNCS+2
Darker than the 7th
FeNCS+2 cold-water bath
well
KNCS Lighter in terms of
Table 2 shows the observation from the comparison of
color compared to the
the two test tubes with the solution of distilled water,
1st well but darker
Sn+2 + 2Fe+3 ⇌ KNCS, and Fe(NO3)3 subjected into two different
compared to the 7th
Sn+4 + 2Fe+2 temperature each, and the test tube at room temperature. As
well
the temperature increases, the red color of the products
White crystalline
faded, indicating an equilibrium shift to the left as more
precipitate formed
reactants were formed, and the reaction was exothermic.
SnCl2 Almost the same color Fe+3 + HPO4-2 ⇌
with 7th well FeHPO4+ Conclusion
AgNO3 White in color Fe+3 + NCS– ⇌
White precipitate FeNCS+2
Principle of Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM 1102 LAB)
Department of Chemistry
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A chemical reaction can achieve a state in which the
forward and reverse processes are occurring at the same Figure 2. solution in different concentration
rate. This condition is called chemical equilibrium, and it
results in the formation of an equilibrium mixture of the
reactants and products of the reaction. The composition of
an equilibrium mixture does not change with time if
temperature is held constant.
If a system at equilibrium is disturbed by a change in
concentration, pressure, or temperature, the system will shift
its equilibrium position to counter the effect of the
disturbance.
Bibliography
Britannica (2016). Chemical equilibrium. Encyclopædia
Britannica, inc. Figure 3. solution in different temperature
Brown, T. [Link] (2012). Chemistry The Central Science
Twelfth Edition. United States of America: Pearson
Education,Inc. Questions:
[Link]. (2019, june 6). Chemistry LibreTexts.
Retrieved from [Link] the observed results on the experiment agree with
[Link] the Le Châtelier’s principle? Why or why not?
nd_theoretical_chemistry_textbook_maps/ The observed results agreed with the Le Châtelier’s
chemical-equiibrium principle. In the experiment regarding external stress,
the equilibrium shifted to the opposite direction where
the students increased the concentration, by adding
Appendices more reactants or products. As reversible reactions are
self-correcting, the system will naturally shift in such
a way to become in equilibrium after the change.
[Link] procedure B, what do the results suggests in the
forward reaction? Explain. (Hint: Endothermic or
exothermic? Reversible or irreversible?)
The results suggested that, in the forward reaction, as
the temperature increases, an equilibrium shift to the
left is observed. According to the Le Châtelier’s
principle, if the temperature increases and the
equilibrium shifts to the left, then the decrease in
temperature must be reverse of the increase in
Figure 1. solution of distilled water, KNCS, and Fe(NO3)3 temperature. Hence, the forward reaction is
exothermic and is reversible.
Principle of Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM 1102 LAB)
Department of Chemistry
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