1E4 Physical Sciences – Exercises 3
Chemical equilibria and ionic salt solutions
1) The following equilibrium system is established in a closed container:
5CO(g) + I2O5(s) I2(g) + 5CO2(g) ∆H0 = -1175 kJ
a) Write the equilibrium constant.
b) Use LeChatelier’s principle to predict the effect that the change given in the first column of the table
below has on the quantity in the second column; each change is applied separately to the system. Indicate
the effect in the third column with i = increase; d = decrease or nc = no change.
Change Quantity Effect
Decrease total volume Keq
Increase volume Moles of CO
Raise temperature Keq
Add I2 Moles of CO2
Add I2O5 Moles of I2
Remove CO2 Moles of I2
Decrease total volume Moles of CO
Increase total volume Moles of CO2
Add CO2 Concentration of I2O5
Atkins GenChem, p.528
2) Problem 17.86 Silberberg p.779
An industrial chemist is studying the water gas shift reaction, and he introduces 2.0 atm of H2 and 2.0 atm
of CO2 into a 1.00L container at 25 oC and then raises the temperature to 700 0C at which K = 0.534
H2 (g) + CO2 (g) H2O (g) + CO (g)
a) How many grams of H2 are present at equilibrium?
b) The ∆Ho of this reaction is 42 kJ/mol. Should you lower or increase the temperature In order to
increase the yield of CO? Could you increase the yield by compressing the reaction vessel to half its
volume? Explain your answers.
c) A copper Raney catalyst is often used for this reaction. How does the ∆H0 change when the reaction is
carried out over these catalysts?
3) Problem 17.91 Silberberg, p.779
When 0.100 mol of CaCO3 (s) and 0.100 mol of CaO(s) are placed in an evacuated sealed 10.0 L
container and heated to 385 K. pCO2 = 0.220 atm after equilibrium is established:
CaCO3(s) CaO(s) + CO2(g)
a) An additional 0.300 atm of CO2(g) is pumped in. What is the total mass (in g) of CaCO3 after
equilibrium is re-established?
4) The temperature dependence of the equilibrium constant of the reaction
N2(g) + O2(g) 2NO(g) can be expressed as lnK = 2.5 – 21700/T. What is the standard enthalpy of the
forward reaction?
5) Consider the dissolution of mercurous chloride (Hg2Cl2) in water.
Hg2Cl2 Hg22+ + 2Cl-
a) given that the solubility product of Hg2Cl2 is 1.2 10-18 at room temperature calculate what is its
solubility.
b) calculate the solubility of mercurous chloride in a 0.030 M NaCl aqueous solution. Explain any
assumptions you make.
6) Consider a solution of plumbous (Pb+2) and mercurous (Hg2+2) ions, each at a concentration of 0.010
M. Each forms an insoluble iodide, but the mercurous iodide is considerably less soluble: Ksp(PbI2) =
7.9x10-9 and Ksp(Hg2I2) = 1.1x10-28 . Is it possible to completely separate the Pb2+ and Hg+2 by selectively
precipitating the latter with iodide (I-)? The criterion for complete separation is that 99.99% of the Hg2+2
can be precipitated without causing Pb2+ to precipitate.
7) Given the equilibria below, calculate the concentrations of each zinc-containing species in a solution
saturated with Zn(OH)2(s) and containing [OH-] at a fixed concentration of 3.2x10-7 M.
Zn(OH)2(s) Ksp = 3.0 x 10-16
Zn2+ + OH- Zn(OH)+ K1 = 2.5 x 104
Zn2+ + 3OH- Zn(OH)3- K3 = 7.2 x 1015
Zn2+ + 4OH- Zn(OH)42- K4 = 2.8 x 1015
8) Consider the following figure that describes the clustering of partition coefficients of pollutants; KAW is
the partition coefficient air-water; KOW is the partition coefficient octanol-water. What group of pollutants
will preferentially be accumulated in the atmosphere, which one in water bodies and which one in soils?
Consider that soils are rich in organic matter.
Evaluating Long-Range Transport and Deposition Potential. From van de Meent, D., McKone,
T., Parkerton, T., Matthies, M., Scheringer, M., Wania, F., Purdy, R., and Bennett, D. 1999. Persistence
and Transport Potential of Chemicals in a Multimedia Environment. In Proceedings of the SETAC
Pellston Workshop on Criteria for Persistence and Long-Range Transport of Chemicals in the
Environment, 14-19 July 1998, Fairmont Hot Springs, British Columbia, Canada. Society of
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Pensacola, FL.
