A solution is prepared by mixing \(50.0 \mathrm{~mL}\) of \(0.10 \mathrm{M} \mathrm{Pb}\left(\mathrm{NO}_{3}\right)_{2}\) with \(50.0 \mathrm{~mL}\) of \(1.0 M \mathrm{KCl}\). Calculate the concentrations of \(\mathrm{Pb}^{2+}\) and \(\mathrm{Cl}^{-}\) at equilibrium. \(\left[K_{\text {sp }}\right.\) for \(\mathrm{PbCl}_{2}(s)\) is \(\left.1.6 \times 10^{-5} .\right]\)

Understanding chemical equilibrium is crucial when delving into the behavior of reactions in a closed system. Equilibrium is a state in a chemical reaction where the rate of the forward reaction equals the rate of the reverse reaction. As a result, the concentrations of the reactants and products remain constant over time, but they are not necessarily equal.

For example, when lead(II) nitrate and potassium chloride are mixed, it results in the formation of lead(II) chloride. In this reaction, lead(II) chloride can both dissolve to produce ions and precipitate out of the solution. At equilibrium, these two processes occur at the same rate, meaning that the amount of lead(II) chloride in the solid and dissolved state does not change.

A key aspect of chemical equilibrium is that it's a dynamic process. Even though the macroscopic properties stay the same (like concentrations), at the microscopic level, individual molecules are continuously reacting in both the forward and reverse directions.

The Ksp, or solubility product constant, is a special type of equilibrium constant that applies to the dissolution of sparingly soluble salts. It's a crucial concept for understanding the solubility and precipitation processes.

For the reaction where a salt, like PbCl₂, dissolves in water, the Ksp expression takes the form of the product of the concentrations of the resulting ions, each raised to the power of its stoichiometric coefficient. In our given exercise, the Ksp expression for PbCl₂ is represented as:
\[K_{sp} = [Pb^{2+}][Cl^{-}]^{2}\]

The Ksp value is constant at a given temperature and reflects the extent to which a compound can dissolve in water. If the product of the ionic concentrations in a solution exceeds the Ksp value, the excess ions will start to precipitate until the product of their concentrations equals the Ksp again. Conversely, if the product is below the Ksp value, more salt can dissolve until equilibrium is reestablished.

ICE stands for Initial, Change, and Equilibrium, and the method involves setting up a table to systematically calculate the equilibrium concentrations of all species in a reaction. It's a visual tool that helps clarify the step-by-step changes occurring in a reaction mixture.

Using an ICE table starts with noting the initial concentrations of reactants and products prior to any reaction occurring. Then, you denote the changes in concentrations as the reaction proceeds towards equilibrium, typically represented by variables like 'x'. Finally, you calculate the equilibrium concentrations.
For our problem where lead chloride dissolves in water:

• Initial concentrations of Pb²⁺ and Cl⁻ are known from the Pb(NO₃)₂ and KCl solutions provided.
• The change in concentrations is expressed in terms of 'x', corresponding to the number of moles of PbCl₂ that dissolve.
• Equilibrium concentrations involve the initial concentrations adjusted by these changes (subtracting 'x' for Pb²⁺ and '2x' for Cl⁻ due to the stoichiometry).

The ICE table provides a simple yet powerful way to visualize and solve for equilibrium conditions, especially when dealing with solubility equilibria as illustrated in our exercise.