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Chapter 14: Problem 37

Suppose a reaction vessel is loaded only with the products of a reaction. Which would be faster at the moment after loading, the forward reaction or the reverse reaction? Explain your answer.

Short Answer

Expert verified
In conclusion, the reverse reaction would be faster at the moment after loading the reaction vessel with only products, as the concentration of reactants is initially zero, leading to a zero forward reaction rate. The reverse reaction has a non-zero rate as there is an initial concentration of products, allowing the reaction to proceed in the reverse direction.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the reaction vessel content

A reaction is considered to be in a forward direction when the reactants convert into products, and in a reverse direction when the products revert to reactants. In this particular scenario, the reaction vessel is initially loaded only with products.
02

Relation to reaction rates

To determine which reaction would be faster (forward or reverse), we need to understand the relation between reaction rates and the concentrations of reactants and products. According to the law of mass action, the rate of reaction is directly proportional to the concentration of reactants in a forward reaction and to the concentration of products in a reverse reaction.
03

Applying the Law of Mass Action

As per the given scenario, the reaction vessel contains only products at the moment after loading. Therefore, the concentration of reactants is initially zero. The Law of Mass Action states that the forward reaction rate depends on the concentration of reactants. Since there are initially no reactants present, the forward reaction rate is initially zero. On the other hand, the reverse reaction rate depends on the concentration of the products. Since there are products present in the vessel, the reverse reaction rate is non-zero and, therefore, faster than the forward reaction at the moment after loading.
04

Conclusion

In conclusion, the reverse reaction would be faster at the moment after loading the reaction vessel with only products, as the concentration of reactants is initially zero, leading to a zero forward reaction rate. The reverse reaction has a non-zero rate as there is an initial concentration of products, allowing the reaction to proceed in the reverse direction.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Suppose you have an endothermic reaction with \(K_{\text {eq }}\) approximately equal to \(1 \times 10^{3}\). How could you adjust the temperature of this reaction to drive it to completion? Explain your answer.

Suppose the reaction \(\mathrm{A}_{2}+\mathrm{B}_{2} \rightleftarrows 2 \mathrm{AB}\) proceeds via a one-step mechanism involving a collision between one \(\mathrm{A}_{2}\) molecule and one \(\mathrm{B}_{2}\) molecule. Suppose also that this reaction is reversible, and that the forward reaction is inherently much faster than the reverse reaction. (a) Does the equilibrium lie to the left or to the right? Explain your choice in terms of the reactant and product concentrations necessary to establish equal forward and reverse rates. (b) Does an analysis in terms of the relationship \(K_{\mathrm{eq}}=k_{\mathrm{f}} / k_{\mathrm{r}}\) yield the same answer as in (a)? Explain.

At \(25^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\), the solubility in water of the moderately soluble salt silver acetate, \(\mathrm{AgC}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{3} \mathrm{O}_{2}\) is \(10.6 \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{L}\). (a) Write the chemical equation for the dissolving of silver acetate in water. (b) Write the \(K_{\mathrm{sp}}\) expression for silver acetate. (c) Calculate the value of \(K_{\mathrm{sp}}\) (show your work).

At \(25^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\), the solubility of \(\mathrm{Ca}_{3}\left(\mathrm{PO}_{4}\right)_{2}\) in water is \(2.60 \times 10^{-6} \mathrm{M}\). What are the equilibrium concentrations of the cation and the anion in a saturated solution?

The solubility of silver acetate in water at \(20{ }^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\) is \(10.5 \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{L}\) of solution. Calculate \(\mathrm{K}_{\mathrm{sp}}\) for silver acetate.
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