chem1 virtual textbook

a reference text for General Chemistry

Stephen Lower

Simon Fraser University

The laws of chemical equilibrium define the direction in which a chemical reaction will proceed, as well as the quantities of reactants and products that will remain after the reaction comes to an end. An understanding of chemical equilibrium and how it can be manipulated is essential for anyone involved in Chemistry and its applications.

The Chem1 Virtual Textbook is a resource for General Chemistry aimed mainly at the first-year university level. It offers a more comprehensive, organized, and measured approach than is found in most standard textbooks. It should also be accessible to advanced high-school courses, and helpful as review material for students in more advanced courses in chemistry, biology, geology, and engineering.

> To access the desired page, click one of the lesson titles immediately below; you can also go directly to any sub-section within a lesson by clicking on a smaller heading.

> See also this MIT OpenCourseWare lecture on chemical equilibrium.

1- Introduction to chemical equilibrium

- Chemical change: how far, how fast?
- What is equilibrium?
- What is a reversible reaction?
- What is the Law of Mass Action?
- How do we know when a reaction is at equilibrium?
- Summary
- What you should be able to do
- Concept map

2- The Le Châtelier principle

- What is the Le Châtelier principle?
- Effects of temperature on equilibria
- Effects of pressure on equilibria
- The Haber process
- Some applications to physiology
- Summary
- Concept map

3- K and Q: what's the difference?

- What is the reaction quotient?
- How to visualize Q and K
- Summary
- Concept map

4- Writing and understanding equilibrium expressions

- Pressures can express concentrations
- Don't show unchanging concentrations
- Values of equilibrium constants
- Do equilibrium constants have units?
- How the reaction equation affects K
- More on heterogeneous reactions
- Summary
- Concept map

5- Understanding equilibrium calculations

- Evaluating equilibrium constants
- Predicting equilibrium concentrations
- Dilution problems
- Phase distribution equilibria
- Summary
- Concept map