The formation of tetrafluoroethylene from its elements is highly exothermic:
2F2(g) + 2C(s) <-> F2C=C2F(g)
b) Rare bacteria from the planet Teflon eat C2F4 and make Teflon for their cell walls. Will the reaction go to the right or left if these bacteria are added? Right
c) Will the reaction go right or left if solid graphite is added? Neither
d) Will the reaction go right or left if the container is crushed to one-eighth of its original volume? Right
I know the answers to these questions, but I have no idea how to get them.
question n°2
To determine the direction in which a reaction will proceed, we can consider a few factors:
a) The reaction's equilibrium constant (K):
The equilibrium constant of a reaction determines the relative amounts of reactants and products at equilibrium. If the equilibrium constant (K) is large, it indicates that the reaction favors the formation of products. In this case, since the formation of tetrafluoroethylene is highly exothermic, it suggests that the reaction is more likely to proceed to the right, indicating the formation of the product, C2F4.
b) Rare bacteria from the planet Teflon eat C2F4 and make Teflon for their cell walls. Will the reaction go to the right or left if these bacteria are added? Right
In this scenario, the bacteria consume the reactant C2F4. According to Le Chatelier's principle, when a reactant is removed from a system, the reaction will shift in the direction that produces more of that reactant. Thus, the reaction will go to the right to replenish the consumed C2F4, indicating the formation of the product.
c) Will the reaction go right or left if solid graphite is added? Neither
Solid graphite is not involved in the chemical equation, so its addition would have no impact on the reaction direction. The equilibrium would remain unaffected, and the reaction would not shift to the right or left.
d) Will the reaction go right or left if the container is crushed to one-eighth of its original volume? Right
When the volume of a system is decreased, according to Le Chatelier's principle, the reaction will shift in the direction that reduces the number of gas molecules. In this case, the reaction will go to the right because the formation of tetrafluoroethylene involves the consumption of gaseous reactants (F2 and C2F2). Thus, the reaction would proceed to the right, indicating the formation of more gaseous product molecules and reducing the overall number of gas molecules in the system.
To determine the direction in which a chemical reaction will shift, we need to understand a concept called Le Chatelier's principle. This principle states that if a system at equilibrium is subjected to a change, it will adjust in a way that tends to counteract that change and restore equilibrium.
In the given reaction: 2F2(g) + 2C(s) ⇌ F2C=C2F(g)
b) When bacteria from the planet Teflon (which eat C2F4) are added, they will consume some of the tetrafluoroethylene (C2F4), shifting the equilibrium to the right. By removing C2F4, which is on the left side of the equation, the reaction will shift to the right to compensate for the loss. Therefore, the reaction will go to the right.
c) If solid graphite (C) is added, it does not directly participate in the reaction. Since it is not involved in the reaction, adding graphite will not shift the equilibrium in either direction. Therefore, the reaction will neither go to the right nor left.
d) If the container is crushed to one-eighth of its original volume, the pressure inside the container increases. According to Le Chatelier's principle, if the pressure on a system is increased, it will shift in the direction that reduces the pressure. In this reaction, the number of gas molecules decreases when C2F4 is converted to F2C=C2F. Therefore, by reducing the volume, the pressure increases, and the system will shift to the right to decrease the pressure. Hence, the reaction will go to the right.
In summary:
b) Adding bacteria from the planet Teflon will shift the reaction to the right.
c) Adding solid graphite will not shift the reaction in either direction.
d) Crushing the container to one-eighth of its original volume will shift the reaction to the right.