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Consider the gas-phase reaction, Cl2(g) + Br2(g) 2 BrCl(g), for which Kp = 32 at

ID: 895437 • Letter: C

Question

Consider the gas-phase reaction, Cl2(g) + Br2(g) 2 BrCl(g), for which Kp = 32 at 500 K. If the mixture is analyzed and found to contain 0.7 bar of Cl2, 0.7 bar of Br2 and 4.0 bar of BrCl, describe the situation:

1. Q < K and more reactants will be made to reach equilibrium.

2. Q > K and more reactants will be made to reach equilibrium.

3. Q < K and more products will be made to reach equilibrium.

4. Q > K and more products will be made to reach equilibrium.

5. Within 1 decimal place, Q = K and the reaction is at equilibrium

Explanation / Answer

I will suppose reaction goes:

Cl2 + Br2 ---> 2BrCl

Kp = 32 at 500K

PCl = 0.7

PBr = 0.7

PBrCl = 4

Kp = PBrCl^2 / (PCl2)(PBr2)

The actual value of Q is:

Q = PBrCl^2 / (PCl2)(PBr2) = 4^2 / (0.7)(0.7) = 32.653

Technically speaking

Q > K, therefore expect more products than reactants in the equilibrium

BUT, there is a very special note in 5.)

Within 1 decimal place, we can ssume Q=K, which is the case since 32.0 is almost 32.6

Therefore, this is true, you can assume this is in equilibrium (choose 5)