Equilibrium

The study of equilibrium encompasses is, in a very real sense, the heart of chemistry and its contact with the real world. Equilibrium is part of the water cycle you may have studied in an Earth Science course; it is part of the explanation of why decreasing your intake of cholesterol may decrease your risk of heart disease; it explains why the water never completely evaporates out of a closed water bottle and more. 

To understand equilibrium, you first need to know about reversible reactions.

Next you’ll need to see how concentration of reactants and products changeover time. This was partially discussed in the Kinetics unit, but here we’ll take a more subtle look to appreciate the effect of reversible reactions on rates. 

Next we’ll look at the definition of equilibrium, both as an idea and as a mathematical statement. 

We’ll spend some time looking at Le Châtelier’s Principle which discusses how we can influence a system at equilibrium. In that context we’ll discuss cholesterol, water bottles and…….

You'll also need to know about the special cases of solids and pure liquids in equilibrium systems.

Then we’ll dive into the mathematical applications of equilibrium. Specifically, we will: 

• Solve simple problems involving systems already at equilibrium 
• Determine whether a system is already at equilibrium 
• Determine the direction a system (not yet at equilibrium) needs to shift in order to achieve equilibrium. 
• Determine what the concentrations will be when equilibrium is reached

We'll take a look at a different way to do equilibrium calculations with gases.

We’ll also look at how equilibrium applies to solvation and solubility and how equilibrium applies to acids and bases.