Equilibrium 21/04/15

Equilibrium 21/04/15

EQUILIBRIUM

Material:

Covered in class included:

Concept of chemical equilibrium - is when a system has no net change in concentration of reactant and products, where forward and backward reactions are both taking place at the same time at the same rate. 

Le Chatelier - a chemist who came up with the principle that a system at equilibrium will shift so as to oppose any change made to it (counter the changes made to it).

Work in class:

To demonstrate the concept of equilibrium we were given specific amount of M&M's and were made to use them in different simulations. In each there would be one holder of M&M's who represented the reactants, and one holder of M&M's who represented the products. The reactant each time would transfer 1/2 of their quantity to the products, and the products would give 1/4 of their quantity to the reactants. Eventually the system would reach an equilibrium where both were giving each other the same amount. This was then repeated with varying amounts of M&M's and fractions given to each holder.

Mr. Carmichael then went on to demonstrate another explanation of equilibrium where colour was involved. In this demonstration we wrote on a worksheet that described each situation well, and we would explain the changes we would see. Refer to this sheet for further detail. From the experiment we learnt that if a catalyst was added to a reaction it would not effect the equilibrium position, but instead just get to the equilibrium faster.Also that if there is a higher pressure exposed to a reaction it will shift it's equilibrium to the side with less moles of gas to even it's self out.

Graphs covering equilibrium:

Homework:

The homework assigned today was to read pages 218-220 in the SL textbook, to take notes on physical equilibrium, and to highlight the sheet given at the end of class.