Chemistry Lab/Equilibrium

This page is related to the 2013 focus on Equilibrium for Chem Lab.

Basic Information
The term "equilibrium" in chemistry refers to the ability of a reaction to proceed in either direction. When a balance between reactants and products is met, the equation is said to be in equilibrium. The ratio of reactants to products at equilibrium can be defined as a constant, generally k.

LeChatelier's Principle
LeChatelier's principle says that changes in the system that an equilibrium reaction occurs in will cause a change in the overall equilibrium. Examples of these changes can include volume, temperature, pressure, or concentration.

Application to Acids and Bases
When weak acids and/or bases are combined, the reaction that results is an equilibrium reaction. Through a process called titration, you can find the equilibrium constant of the weak substances.