Two Final Thoughts About Equilibrium Chemistry

 Two Final Thoughts About Equilibrium Chemistry

We have reviewed and extended our understanding of equilibrium chemistry. We also have developed several tools for evaluating the composition of a system at equilibrium. These tools differ in how accurately they allow us to answer questions involving equilibrium chemistry. They also differ in their ease of use. An important part of having several tools available to you is knowing when to use them. If you need to know whether a reaction is favorable, or the approximate pH of a solution, a ladder diagram may be sufficient to meet your needs. On the other hand, if you require an accurate estimate of a compound’s solubility, a rigorous cal- culation using the systematic approach and activity coefficients is necessary.

Finally, a consideration of equilibrium chemistry can only help us decide what reactions are favorable. Knowing that a reaction is favorable does not guarantee that the reaction will occur. How fast a reaction approaches its equilibrium position does not depend on the magnitude of the equilibrium constant.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Where to Sample the Target Population

Image
  Where to Sample the Target Population Sampling   errors   occur   when   a   sample’s   composition   is   not   identical   to   that   of   the population   from   which   it   is   drawn.   When   the   material   being   sampled   is   homoge- neous,   individual   samples   can   be   taken   without   regard   to   possible   sampling   errors. Unfortunately,   in   most   situations   the   target   population   is   heterogeneous   in   either time   or   space.   As   a   result   of   settling,   for   example,   medications   available   as   oral   sus- pensions   may   have   a   higher   concentration   of   their   active   in...
Read more

Basic Components of Spectroscopic Instrumentation

Image
  Basic Components of Spectroscopic Instrumentation The   instruments   used   in   spectroscopy   consist   of   several   common   components, including   a   source   of   energy   that   can   be   input   to   the   sample,   a   means   for   isolat- ing   a   narrow   range   of   wavelengths,   a   detector   for   measuring   the   signal,   and   a   sig- nal   processor   to   display   the   signal   in   a   form   convenient   for   the   analyst.   In   this section   we   introduce   the   basic   components   used   to   construct   spectroscopic   in  struments. Sources of Energy All   forms   of   spectroscopy   require   a ...
Read more

Quantitative Applications - Coulometric Methods of Analysis

Image
  Quantitative Applications Coulometry   may   be   used   for   the   quantitative   analysis   of   both   inorganic   and   organic compounds. Examples of controlled-potential and controlled-current   coulometric methods   are   discussed   in   the   following   sections. Controlled-Potential Coulometry  The majority of controlled-potential coulometric analyses   involve   the   determination   of   inorganic   cations   and   anions,   including   trace metals   and   halides.   Table   11.8   provides   a   summary   of   several   of   these   methods. The ability to control selectivity by carefully selecting the working electrode’s potential,   makes   controlled-potential   coulometry   particularly   useful   for   the   analy...
Read more