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Acid-Base Equilibria
Homogeneous versus Heterogeneous Solution Equilibria
Chemistry Textbooks Boundless Chemistry Acid-Base Equilibria Homogeneous versus Heterogeneous Solution Equilibria
Chemistry Textbooks Boundless Chemistry Acid-Base Equilibria
Chemistry Textbooks Boundless Chemistry
Chemistry Textbooks
Chemistry
Concept Version 14
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Homogeneous versus Heterogeneous Solution Equilibria

The equilibrium constants for homogeneous and heterogeneous solutions need to be calculated differently.

Learning Objective

  • Describe the difference between homogeneous and heterogeneous solution equilibria.


Key Points

    • The equilibrium constant (K) is measured from the ratio of products to reactants at equilibrium.
    • When calculating equilibrium constants, pure solids and liquids are not taken into account. This is because their concentration does not change during the reaction.
    • In homogeneous equilibrium, all substances are in the same phase. 
    • In heterogeneous equilibrium, substances are in different phases.

Terms

  • heterogeneous solution

    A solution composed of different states of matter.

  • equilibrium

    The state of a reaction in which the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are the same.

  • homogeneous solution

    A solution composed of matter that all exists in the same state.


Full Text

The equilibrium constants for reactions that contain substances that are all in the same phase, and reactions that contain substances in different phases, need to be calculated differently. The former are called homogenous reactions, and the later are called heterogeneous reactions.

Equilibrium constants

The equilibrium constant K for a given reaction is defined as the ratio of the products of a reaction to the reactants, measured at equilibrium. In a general reaction

$aA + bB \leftrightarrow cC + dD$

The reaction quotient measured at equilibrium is the equilibrium constant K.

$Q \text{ at equilibrium}= \dfrac{[C]^c[D]^d}{[A]^a[B]^b} = K$

Homogenous Equilibria

A homogeneous equilibrium is one in which all of the reactants and products are present in a single solution (by definition, a homogeneous mixture). Reactions between solutes in liquid solutions belong to one type of homogeneous equilibria. The chemical species involved can be molecules, ions, or a mixture of both.

For the homogenous reaction

C2H2(aq) + 2Br2(aq) $\leftrightarrow$ C2H2Br4(aq)

The equilibrium constant $K=\dfrac{[C_2H_2Br_4]}{[C_2H_2][Br_2]^2}$.

Heterogeneous Equilibria

A heterogeneous equilibrium is a system in which reactants and products are found in two or more phases. The phases may be any combination of solid, liquid, or gas phases, and solutions. When dealing with these equilibria, remember that solids and pure liquids do not appear in equilibrium constant expressions.

For example, for the reaction

Br2(l) $\leftrightarrow$ Br2(g)

The equilibrium constant K is simply [Br2], with the concentration of the pure liquid Br2 excluded.

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