6.

3: Reversible Reactions
Reversible reaction: When a chemical reaction reaches
such a situation that the concentration of reactants and
products become constant and the rate of forward and
backward reaction become equal then the reaction is called a
reversible reaction.
Most of the reactions are proceed in one direction and cannot be
reversed, e.g.
NaOH

(aq)

+HCl

NaCl

(aq)

(aq)

+ H2O

(l)

Some reactions can be reversed, e.g. decomposition of hydrated

CuSO4 by heat.
Heat

CuSO4.5H2O (S)

CuSO4 (S) + 5H2O (l)

(Blue)

(White)

Again, when water is added to anhydrous CuSO 4, the reversible

reaction takes place.
CuSO4 (S) + 5H2O (l)
CuSO4.5H2O
(S)

(White)
(Blue)

So, the equation for the decomposition of hydrated CuSO 4 can be

written as,
CuSO4.5H2O (S)
Some irreversible reactions are:
2KClO3 (S)
CaCO3 (S)

Some reversible reactions are:

CuSO4 (S) + 5H2O (l)

2KCl (S) + 3O2 (g)
CaO (S) + CO2 (g)
C (S) +O2 (g)
CO2 (g)

N2 (g) + 3H2 (g)

SO2 (g) + O2 (g)
NH4Cl (S)

2NH3 (g)
SO3 (g)
NH3 (g) + HCl

(g)

Dynamic Equilibrium:
A. When a solution of Fe2+ ions is mixed with a
solution of Ag+ ions, the following reaction takes place:
Fe2+ (aq) + Ag+

(aq)

Fe3+ (aq) + Ag (S)

By analysis of the mixture, substances found from both side of the

equation which indicates that all Fe2+(aq) and Ag+(aq) ions have not
reacted together. The reaction remains incomplete.
B. When a solution of Iodine (I2) in Potassium
iodide (KI) solution is shaken with an organic solvent
trichloroethane (CH3CCl3), water do not mix with CH3CCl3 and
made two separate layers but I2 molecules move during shaking.
I2 dissolves in KI solution and form a brown solution but dissolves
in CH3CCl3 and form a purple solution. Before shaking, all I2
molecules remain dissolved in aqueous layer of KI solution (brown
colour). After a little shake to the mixture, CH3CCl3 layer becomes
slightly purple because some I2 molecules move into that layer.
After shaking for a while, the CH3CCl3 layer becomes darker as
more I2 molecules move to that layer and aqueous layer of KI
becomes lighter (Light brown). Eventually, both layers remain
coloured due to the presence of I2.
Firstly, I2 started to dissolve from aqueous layer to CH3CCl3
layer(forward reaction) and when the concentration of I2 in
CH3CCl3 layer increased, molecules started going back into the
aqueous layer (backward reaction).

Forward reaction

I2 in aqueous KI layer

I2 in CH3CCl3 layer
Backward reaction

When the concentration of I2 in aqueous layer decreased

(which means increased in CH3CCl3 layer), the forward reaction
slowed down and backward reaction become faster.
After a while, rate of forward and backward reaction
becomes equal and concentration of I2 in both solvents becomes
constant. This situation is called Dynamic Equilibrium because
reaction toward both sides does not stop.
When a reversible reaction reach such equilibrium that
concentration of reactants and products become constant and
reaction appears to be stopped then the situation or phenomenon
is called dynamic equilibrium.
La Chateliers Principle:
If an equilibrium mixture is disturbed by
changing the conditions, then the composition of the
equilibrium mixture will change to try to remove the
disturbance.
When a chemical reaction attain an equilibrium then if
any factor of that equilibrium such as temperature, pressure or
concentration changed suddenly, the equilibrium will change in
such a way that it neutralises the changing affects of that factor.
Factors affecting equilibrium:

1. Concentration

2. Temperature &
3. Pressure.
# Changing Concentration:

Fe2+ (aq) + Ag+ (aq)

Fe3+ (aq) + Ag (S)

After attaining equilibrium, if extra Ag+ (aq) ions are added to the
mixture, the excess Ag+ (aq) will increase the concentration of Ag +
(aq) and create a disturbance. The equilibrium mixture will now try
to remove this extra Ag+ (aq) and forward reaction will increase. As
a result, extra Fe3+ (aq) and Ag (S) will be produced and amount of
Fe2+ (aq) and Ag+ (aq) will be decreased. A new equilibrium will be
obtained with more Fe3+ (aq) and Ag (S) and a few Fe2+ (aq).
Same result for the removal of Fe3+ (aq).

A. N2(g) + 3H2(g)

2NH3(g); H = -184 KJ

B. CH4(g) + H2O(l)

CO(g) + 3H2O(g); H

= +210 KJ
# Changing Temperature:
According to La Chateliers Principle, for an exothermic reaction
like A, increase of temperature will proceed the reaction mixture
backward to get rid of the extra heat energy as forward reaction
will increase more heat energy and heat is absorbed by backward
reaction.
The opposite will happen if the temperature is lowered.
For an endothermic reaction like B, increase of temperature will
proceed the reaction mixture forward because the effect of
increasing temperature will be removed or neutralised by
absorbing heat energy by forward reaction.
# Changing Pressure:
Changing pressure can effect gas reactions.

For a reaction like A, the increased pressure of the equilibrium

mixture will proceed the forward reaction because the effect of
extra pressure will be removed by lowering the no. of moles of
gas present in the equilibrium mixture.
The opposite will happen if the pressure is decreased.
For a reaction like B, the increased pressure of the equilibrium
mixture will proceed the backward reaction to get rid of the effect
of extra pressure. By decreasing the no. of moles of gas, the
equilibrium mixture can get rid of from such disturbance.