March 28, 2024, 04:30:38 PM
Forum Rules: Read This Before Posting


Topic: Adding a compound to an equilibrium system?  (Read 2557 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline GregoryC4

  • Regular Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 10
  • Mole Snacks: +0/-0
Adding a compound to an equilibrium system?
« on: October 26, 2014, 02:45:38 PM »
Lets say you have a equilibrium system:

CoCl4-2 {blue} + 6 H2O   Co(H2O)6+2 {red} + 4 Cl- + heat

If you were to add KCl to the system, which side does the the compound add to? What is the chemical entity formed? Confused  ???

Thanks for your help everyone.

Offline mjc123

  • Chemist
  • Sr. Member
  • *
  • Posts: 2048
  • Mole Snacks: +296/-12
Re: Adding a compound to an equilibrium system?
« Reply #1 on: October 26, 2014, 03:18:37 PM »
KCl will dissociate to K+ and Cl-. K+ doesn't react with anything in the system - it is a spectator ion. The Cl- will increase the concentration of Cl- already present. What effect will this have on the equilibrium?

Offline GregoryC4

  • Regular Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 10
  • Mole Snacks: +0/-0
Re: Adding a compound to an equilibrium system?
« Reply #2 on: October 26, 2014, 04:31:30 PM »
KCl will dissociate to K+ and Cl-. K+ doesn't react with anything in the system - it is a spectator ion. The Cl- will increase the concentration of Cl- already present. What effect will this have on the equilibrium?

Equilibrium will shift to the left to negate the increased concentration on the right? Thanks for your help, very simple and informative answer. 

Offline GregoryC4

  • Regular Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 10
  • Mole Snacks: +0/-0
Re: Adding a compound to an equilibrium system?
« Reply #3 on: October 26, 2014, 04:36:44 PM »
If a compound where both the ions are "spectator ions", how would the equilibrium be affected? Would it even be affected at all?
My guess would be it just reduces the overall concentration at equilibrium.

Offline mjc123

  • Chemist
  • Sr. Member
  • *
  • Posts: 2048
  • Mole Snacks: +296/-12
Re: Adding a compound to an equilibrium system?
« Reply #4 on: October 27, 2014, 05:35:50 AM »
If you just add a small amount of solid it won't significantly affect the concentrations. If you add it as solution, however, the concentrations will be reduced. If you add a significant amount of ions, you will change the ionic strength, and therefore the activity coefficients. Have you come across the concept of activity yet?

Sponsored Links