Explain, in terms of particles, concentration, and reaction rate, what you expect to happen when methane gas (CH4) and hydrogen sulfide gas (H2S) are sealed in a flask and reach a state of equilibrium.
CH4 (g) +2 H2S (g) --><--- CS2 (g) + 4 H2 (g)
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BASEDGOD
reaction rates each way are equal, by definition of equilibrium.
pressure will be greater at equilibrium, as (balanced equation) there were 3 moles on left, 5 moles on right, so to whatever degree it goes to the right, it makes more particles, and increases pressure.
To understand what happens when methane gas (CH4) and hydrogen sulfide gas (H2S) reach a state of equilibrium in a flask, we need to consider the concept of particles, concentration, and reaction rate.
In this reaction, methane gas and hydrogen sulfide gas react to form carbon disulfide gas (CS2) and hydrogen gas (H2):
CH4 (g) + 2 H2S (g) ⇌ CS2 (g) + 4 H2 (g)
The reaction equation shows that methane and hydrogen sulfide molecules collide and undergo a chemical transformation. However, the reaction is not instantaneous and reaches a dynamic equilibrium, which means that the rate of the forward reaction (reactants forming products) is equal to the rate of the reverse reaction (products forming reactants).
Now, let's break down the different aspects of this system:
1. Particles: Each molecule or atom in the reaction is considered a particle. In this case, we have methane (CH4), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), carbon disulfide (CS2), and hydrogen (H2) as particles involved in the reaction.
2. Concentration: Concentration refers to the amount of a substance in a given volume. It plays a crucial role in equilibrium. If we initially have high concentrations of methane and hydrogen sulfide in the flask, the reaction will proceed in the forward direction to consume these reactants and form products (CS2 and H2). As the reaction progresses, the concentrations of methane and hydrogen sulfide will decrease, while the concentrations of carbon disulfide and hydrogen will increase until a certain point.
3. Reaction Rate: Reaction rate is the speed at which a reaction occurs. At the beginning, when the reactants are in high concentration, the forward reaction rate would be higher than the reverse reaction rate. As the reactant concentrations decrease, the forward reaction rate slows down, and the reverse reaction rate starts catching up. Eventually, the rates of forward and reverse reactions become equal, and the system reaches equilibrium.
In summary, when methane gas and hydrogen sulfide gas are sealed in a flask and reach equilibrium, the concentrations of methane and hydrogen sulfide will decrease over time, while the concentrations of carbon disulfide and hydrogen will increase. The reaction rate will slow down until the rates of the forward and reverse reactions become equal, resulting in a dynamic equilibrium.