If the competing equilibria are ignored, does that mean the value of their equilibrium constant cant be calculated?
If the competing equilibria are ignored, it means that the reaction is assumed to proceed only in one direction without any reverse reactions or other concurrent reactions. In this case, the value of the equilibrium constant for the ignored equilibria cannot be calculated directly.
The equilibrium constant (K) represents the ratio of the concentrations (for a homogeneous reaction) or partial pressures (for a gaseous reaction) of the products to the reactants at equilibrium. It is determined based on the balanced chemical equation and the concentrations or partial pressures of the species involved.
When competing equilibria are present, multiple reactions are occurring simultaneously, and the system is in a state of chemical equilibrium where different equilibria are simultaneously established. The overall equilibrium constant can be calculated by considering the individual equilibrium constants for each reaction involved, known as the principle of microscopic reversibility.
However, if the competing equilibria are ignored, you would assume that only one reaction is taking place. In this case, you cannot directly calculate the equilibrium constant for the ignored equilibria since they are not being taken into account. The equilibrium constant for the assumed reaction can still be calculated, but it would not reflect the entire system's behavior due to the neglected equilibria.
It is important to note that in certain cases, ignoring competing equilibria may be a simplifying assumption made to study specific aspects of a reaction or to focus on dominant reactions. However, if a more comprehensive understanding of the system is required, the effects of all competing equil