Answer to Question #148769 in General Chemistry for Aiesha Hariprashad

Question

A mixture of 1.00 mol O2(g), 2.00 mol O2(g) and 1.00 mol SO3(g) is placed in a 1.00 dm3 container and allowed to reach equilibrium. 2502(g) + O2(g) = 2503(g) The equilibrium constant, K, is 0.282 at temperature T. Deduce, showing your work, the direction of the initial reaction.

Answer 1

Equation for the reaction is

2SO2 + O2 --------- 2SO3

To determine the direction of the reaction we must find the rate first

Rate =K[SO3]²/[SO2]²[O2]

Rate=0.282([1]²/[1]²[2])

Rate=0.282×(1/2)

Rate=0.141

From the calculations done above ,since the equilibrium constant and the rate are less than one ,then it can be deduced that the reaction goes in a backward direction.