When Q < K, what can you conclude about the reaction?
A. The reaction is not yet at equilibrium, and the reaction will proceed in the forward direction.
B. The reaction is not yet at equilibrium, but the direction of the reaction must be experimentally determined.
C. The reaction is at equilibrium and no reactions are occurring.
D. The reaction is not yet at equilibrium, and the reaction will proceed in the reverse direction.
A. The reaction is not yet at equilibrium, and the reaction will proceed in the forward direction.
When Q < K, it means that the reaction quotient is smaller than the equilibrium constant. This indicates that there are fewer products relative to reactants compared to the equilibrium state.
Therefore, the correct answer is:
D. The reaction is not yet at equilibrium, and the reaction will proceed in the reverse direction.
To determine what can be concluded about the reaction when Q (the reaction quotient) is less than K (the equilibrium constant), we need to understand the relationship between Q and K.
Q is calculated using the same formula as the equilibrium constant (K), but it uses the concentrations or pressures of the reactants and products at any given moment during the reaction, rather than at equilibrium.
If Q is less than K (Q < K), it means that the products' concentrations (or pressures) are lower than what is expected when the reaction reaches equilibrium.
Here's what can be concluded about the reaction when Q < K:
B. The reaction is not yet at equilibrium, but the direction of the reaction must be experimentally determined.
When Q < K, the reaction is not in equilibrium, and the concentrations of the products are too low compared to the expected equilibrium concentrations. This indicates that the reaction has not yet proceeded to completion.
To determine the direction in which the reaction will proceed, further experimentation or observation is required. Depending on the specific conditions, the reaction may proceed in either the forward or the reverse direction to reach equilibrium.