Chemistry 1

Lab 6

Chemical Equilibrium and Le

Chateliers Principle

Students name: Azamat Amzebek (201493886)

Lab partners name: Nurdaulet Altynbekov (201374364)

Tutors name: Jorge Oa Ruales

Date: 24.10.16

Abstract

Chemical equilibrium and Le Chateliers principle are two

interconnecting fundamentals, which are essential in
understanding and predicting the chemical composition of
reaction mixture. A lot of industrial processes are being
proceeded implementing laws of these two insights. This
experiment will analyze the application of this principle under
different circumstances. Five reactions will be considered with
different features ranging from color to physical states.
Dependence of equilibrium condition will be performed using
endothermic reaction involving two complex ions of cobalt. Shifts
of equilibrium depending on concentration are easily identifiable
using colorful reactions involving complex iron ions with
thiocyanate and formation of precipitate. Analyzing the data
taken, distinct dependence has been formulated consistent with
principle of Le Chatelier.
 1. Introduction

Chemical equilibrium as an essential nature of chemical and

physical processes, where any other reaction tends to approach. It
is a state of a system with fixed natural variables, in which its
characteristic function is at minimum. If a in system there is an
undergoing reversible reaction, then at dynamic equilibrium rates
of forward and reverse reactions are equal, and with over time
there is no net change of concentration in a reaction mixture.

After the system reaches an equilibrium it can experience

alterations due to change in some conditions. Equilibria respond
to changes in temperature, pressure, and amounts of reactants
and products. The dependence of equilibrium on variation of
physical and chemical states have been formulated by the French
chemist Henri Le Chatelier. This principle states that: A system at
equilibrium, when subjected to a disturbance, responds in a way
that tends to minimize the effect of the disturbance.

Applying this principle in this experiment, several systems

will be analyzed. Changes in equilibrium can observed from
changes in physical state or form, like precipitation, color
changes, etc. Observation of system equilibrium have been
during changes in concentration of reacting agents and variation
in temperature.

Chemical equilibrium is an extremely important process in

industrial and biological processes. Highly accurate data about
the composition of final output should be collected to increase
purity and analyse alternatives. But it should be noted that in
industry, processes rarely achieve equilibrium, partly on account
of the rates at which reactions proceed and mix.
2. Theory

Chemical equilibrium is a state of a system, when there is no

change in concentration in a mixture. But this equilibrium state
can be violated by altering different types of conditions.
Applying Le Chateliers Principles it can be predicted in which
direction equilibrium will shift after disturbance have been
made. Nature of this disturbance is chosen to distinctly identify
shift in equilibrium.

Le Chateliers Principle states that system at equilibrium

condition is tend to shift in the direction of exothermic reaction
when temperature is lowered, because energy is released as
heat and drop of temperature is opposed. Conversely, when the
temperature is raised, shift in the endothermic direction can be
expected. This can be concluded as follows:

Increasing temperature shifts equilibrium to reactants, when

reaction is exothermic.

Increasing temperature shifts equilibrium to products, when

reaction is endothermic.

The same rule is applied to predict change in equilibrium

concentrations of system, when alteration in amount of
variables has been made. Considering reaction at equilibrium
with specified reagents and products, direction of shift can be
analyzed. By Le Chateliers principles increasing concentration
of reagents should shift equilibrium to products, to minimize
the effect of disturbance. Conversely, adding product of
 reaction to mixture should shift equilibrium to the left or
reagent, to minimize the amount of increased concentration of
product. This can be concluded as follows:

Increasing the concentration of reagents causes a shift to the

right.

Increasing the concentration of product causes a shift to the

left.

The reactions given for analysis has distinctive feature for

determination the shift in equilibrium. Some of them forms
precipitate in one direction, which is easily identifiable. Others
can experience colorful changes when the equilibrium is
disturbed.

1) Saturated Sodium Chloride Solution.

Cl( aq )
+
Na( aq) +
NaCl(s )

2) Acidified Chromate Solution. Chromate is yellow and

dichromate is orange.
+ 2
2 H ( aq) Cr 2 O 7 (aq )+ H 2 O(l )
2
2 Cr O4 (aq) +

3) Aqueous Ammonia Solution with phenolphthalein. Mixture is

colourless in neutral and acidic, and pink in basic solution.
OH ( aq )
+
N H 4( aq) +
N H 3(aq) + H 2 O( l)

4) Cobalt (II) Chloride Solution. Hexahydrate of Cobalt (II) ion is

pink and tetrachloride Cobalt (II) ion is blue.
 2
4 Cl (aq ) CoCl 4 (aq )+6 H 2 O(l )
+2
Co( H 2 O)6 (aq) +

5) Iron (III) Thiocyanate Solution. Aqueous iron (III) is pale

yellow and thiocyanate complex is deep red.

SCN +2
( aq ) Fe( SCN ) ( aq )

Fe+3(aq) +

3. Method

Part 1

3 mL of a saturated NaCl(aq) has been placed into a small test

tube. To this tube 12M HCl solution has been added dropwise until
a white precipitation forms. By doing so concentration of chloride
has been increased to shift the equilibrium. Observation of
reaction progress has been recorded.

Part 2

3 mL of 0.1M K2CrO4 (aq) has been placed into a test tube. An equal
3mL of 6M HNO3 has been added to solution. The change of color
has been observed due to change of concentration. The reverse
process has been achieved by adding 10% NaOH solution
dropwise. Basic solution reacts with hydrogen ions to recover
original mixture.

Part 3

The stock solution is prepared by dissolution of 4 drops of 15M

NH3 in a 100mL distilled water. 3 drops phenolphthalein has been
added to indicate change of pH of a mixture. 3 mL of prepared
stock solution is placed into a small test tube. Powdery NH 4Cl in a
small amount has been added to test tube. Color change of
indicator has been observed.

Part 4

Prepared solution of 0.1M CoCl2 have been placed to three small

test tubes with 3mL to each. First tube remains as reference for
comparison with other tests. To the second tube 12M HCl has
been added dropwise until distinct there was a distinct color
change.

Third test tube has been used for analysis of equilibrium during
variation in temperature. Solid NH4Cl has been added in small
amount to the tube and heated using heating mantle. Changes in
color has been recorded

Part 5

Stock solution given for analysis has been prepared by dissolving

1mL of 0.1M FeCl3 and 1mL of 0.1 M KSCN solution in a 100-mL
distilled water. This solution has been placed into 4 small test
tubes with 3mL to each. First tube remains untouched as a
reference for comparison. To the second tube 1mL of 0.1M FeCl 3
has been added and changes in color have been recorded.

To the third test tube 1mL of 0.1M KSCN have been added and
color change have been recorded.
To the final test tube with solution 0.1M AgNO3 has been added
dropwise until original color disappeared and some precipitate
formed. Amount of silver nitrate added has been recorded.

4. Materials

Equipment used: Heating mantle, Scoop, 6 small Test tubes,

Graduated cylinder 10mL (accuracy 0.1mL), Pipette
5mL(accuracy 0.01mL ), test tube holder, 2 beakers 100mL,
wash bottle

Chemicals used:

Solid NH4Cl (s), saturated NaCl (aq), concentrated 12M HCl (aq),
0.1M FeCl3 (aq), 0.1M KSCN (aq), 0.1M AgNO3 (aq), 0.1M CoCl2
(aq), concentrated 15M NH3 (aq), phenolphthalein, 0.1M K2CrO4
(aq), 6M HNO3 (aq), and 10% NaOH (aq).

5. Results and Discussion

Part 1

The first part of experiment analyzes the shift in equilibrium,

when there is a change in concentration of product of the
following reaction:
 Cl( aq )
+
Na( aq) +
NaCl(s )

By principle of Le Chatelier, when there is an increase in

concentration of product, equilibrium shift to the left to decrease
amount of added ions. As expected, drop-wise adding of 12M HCl
solution increases concentration of chlorine ions and sodium
chloride precipitates as a solid. Only 8 drops of acid is needed to
shift the equilibrium.

Part 2

In this part the reaction given for analysis consists of two

oxoanions of chromium in the oxidation state of 6+. Interchange
between two forms occurs due to presence of hydrogen ions. By
changing the amount of H+ present one can control the
equilibrium. The equation of reaction is as follows:

2 H + 2
( aq ) Cr 2 O 7 ( aq ) + H 2 O ( l )

2 Cr O42(aq) +

After adding 6M HNO3 there is a rise in concentration of hydrogen,

and by principle, equilibrium should shift to the right to decrease
amount of reagent. As anticipated, there was an immediate color
change from yellow to orange, which indicates formation of
dichromate.

To recover the initial chromate from formed mixture amount of

hydrogen should be decreased. This can be achieved by
neutralization reaction with 10% NaOH reaction. Approximately
160 drops needed to remove acidic hydrogen and recover
chromate from dichromate. This part also satisfies Le Chateliers
Principle.
Part 3

The stock solution given for analysis contains phenolphthalein,

which is widely used in acid-base titration for its characteristic
feature. It turns pink in basic solution and becomes colorless in
acidic solutions.

OH (aq)
N H 4+ ( aq ) +
N H 3(aq) + H 2 O( l)

From equation it can be seen that original color of solution is pink

due to presence of hydroxide ions. By principle of Le Chatelier,
increasing concentration of product shifts equilibrium to the right.
Adding solid ammonium chloride to solution causes equilibrium to
favour reagents and basic solution become acidic. pH sensitive
indicator phenolphthalein immediately changes its color from pink
to colorless.

Part 4

This prat of experiment involves complex ion formation of cobalt

in a form of hexahydrate. Octahedral aqueous complex appears in
pink color, but it turns blue when tetrahedral complex of [CoCl 4]2-
is formed. The chemical equation is:

4 Cl 2
( aq ) CoCl 4 ( aq ) +6 H 2 O ( l )

Co( H 2 O)6+2(aq) +

First test tube with cobalt salt remains as reference for

comparison. To the solution of cobalt chloride concentrated 12M
HCl has been added dropwise. Due to increase in concentration of
chloride equilibrium shifts to the right by principle and blue
colored [CoCl4]2-. Approximately 90 drops of acid is needed to
convert octahedral complex to tetrahedral. This experiment
satisfies Le Chateliers Principle.

Third test tube is subjected to heat by heating mantle and effect

of temperature change have been analysed. Solid particles of
ammonium chloride have been added to increase concentration
of chloride. Immediate color change doesnt happen due to
insufficient amount of Cl- ions. Also it is known that given reaction
is endothermic. By principle, increasing the temperature of a
system shifts equilibrium to products, if the reaction is
endothermic. It has been observed that at certain temperature
the color changed from pink to blue, which indicates formation of
cobalt (II) tetrachloride ions. Reverse reaction has been achieved
by decreasing the temperature under cool water and pink color
has been recovered.

Part 5

Given stock solution is made from equal amounts of 0.1M FeCl 3

and 0.1M KSCN solution by dissolution in 100-mL distilled water.
This reaction involves formation of iron (III) complex ion with
thiocyanate ion as shown below:

SCN +2
( aq ) Fe( SCN ) ( aq )

Fe+3(aq) +

But the equilibrium is highly favours Fe+3(aq) ions and solution

appears to be pale yellow. First test solution has been left as
reference for comparison. To the second test tube with stock
solution 1-mL of 0.1 FeCl3 has been added. By principle,
increasing the amount of reagent shifts the equilibrium to the
+2
right. Formation of Fe(SCN ) (aq ) turns the color of solution into
orange, which combination of original deep red and pale yellow of
iron (III) ions.
To the third experimental solution 1-mL of 0.1M KSCN has been
added. As in the previous part, increased concentration of
thiocyanate shifts the equilibrium to the right and favours the
products. Formed complex ion [Fe(SCN)]2+ has deep red color, but
it is highly diluted and appears as orange or as a color of tea. By
comparing taken solutions of test tubes 2 and 3, it can be
observed that second tube was brighter and has yellow shade due
to presence of iron (III) ions.

Final section of this experiment involves decreasing the

concentration of reacting agent. This can be achieved by
removing thiocyanate ions as a precipitate with silver. The
process involves the shift in the equilibrium to the left eliminating
red colored complex [Fe(SCN)]2+. This resulted in formation of
colorless solution with white precipitate at the bottom.

The main aim of the experiment was to analyse the changes in

equilibrium, where high accuracy of conducting experiment and
equipment is not sufficient. Small errors due to uncertainty in
graduated cylinder do not make any change to the final result.

6. Conclusion

The chemical equilibrium principles, used in this experiment, have

wide range of application in industry and biological and
biochemical processes. Taken reaction for analysis gives thorough
understanding about nature of proceeding reaction and gives
basis for predicting the composition due to change of conditions.
These conditions include pressure, temperature and concentration
of species present in a mixture. Le Chateliers principle formulated
for such cases has been proven and explained using experimental
results. Increasing the concentration of reacting agents causes
the shift in equilibrium, so that added amount can be diminished.
Also temperature increase of endothermic process caused the
shift towards the product of the reaction. These results are
consistent with principle of chemical equilibrium.
References

1. Atkins, Peter and Julio de Paula.2006. Physical Chemistry.

New York: W.H. Freeman and Company.
2. Atkins, Peter, Overton T., Rourke J., Weller M., Armstrong F.,
Hagerman M. 2010. Inorganic chemistry. New York: W.H.
Freeman and Company.
Post lab Questions

1. Define the following terms: a) Equilibrium; b) Reversible

reaction; (2 marks)

a) Equilibrium is state where there is no net change in

concentration of molecules present in a solution. Such state can
be specified as a dynamic equilibrium, where rates of forward and
reverse reactions are equal.

b) Reversible reaction is a reaction in which reagents form

products, which can also flow backward forming reagents again.
The rate of the reverse reaction increases after accumulation of
product until equilibrium is reached, where rate of forward and
reverse reaction are equal.
 2. State and explain Le Chatelier's principle. (1 mark)

Le Chateliers principle states that:

A system at equilibrium, when subjected to a disturbance,

responds in a way that tends to minimize the effect of the
disturbance.

This principle explains response of the equilibrium to the change

of conditions as temperature, concentration and pressure. For
example, increasing the concentration of reagent shifts the
equilibrium to the products, because by principle accumulation of
reagent should be minimized. The same method can be used for
change of temperature depending on endo- or exothermic the
reaction is.

3. Explain the color changes in each experiment. (3 marks)

In part 1 colorless solution of aqueous solution sodium chloride

becomes white due to formation of solid particles of salt. In part 2
chromate solution with original color of yellow turns orange due to
shift of equilibrium to the right and formation of dichromate.
Chromate ion has been recovered after neutralization of added
acid and solution has become yellow again.

In part 3 pink solution is due to presence of hydroxide ions which

forms basic solution. After adding ammonium salt shift in the
equilibrium causes drop in the pH and phenolphthalein become
colorless.

In part 4 octahedral complexes with pink color react with chloride

ions to form tetrahedral complex with blue color. Both sections
involve the same process at different conditions.

In part 5 formation of [Fe(SCN)]2+ complex causes the change of

color to orange. Elimination of thiocyanate ions shifts the
equilibrium to the left and forms iron (III) ions with yellow shade.
But solution is highly diluted so it appears as colorless.
 4. Determine the factors affecting chemical Equilibrium (1
mark)

Chemical equilibrium can be affected by change in temperature,

pressure and concentration.

5. Write a reaction to illustrate how the equilibrium in Part 4 is

affected by heat. Explain in terms of Le Chateliers Principle.
(2 marks)
2
4 Cl (aq )+ heat Co Cl 4 (aq )+6 H 2 O(l )
The reaction in part 4: +2
Co( H 2 O)6 (aq) +

This is an endothermic reaction, and increasing the temperature

will shift the equilibrium to the right, because the energy is being
absorbed and rise in temperature is opposed.

6. How can we tell, in the experiment, if a shift in equilibrium

has occurred? (2 marks)

The shift in equilibrium can be observed from the distinct changes

in physical state of the mixture components. In this experiment as
an indicator of shift of equilibrium, formation of precipitate,
change of color of present molecules and acid-base indicator have
been used.