Equilibrium chemistry

A chemical system is said to be in equilibrium when the quantities of the chemical entities involved do not and cannot change in time without the application of an external influence. In this sense a system in chemical equilibrium is in a stable state. The system at chemical equilibrium will be at a constant temperature, pressure or volume and a composition. It will be insulated from exchange of heat with the surroundings, that is, it is a closed system. A change of temperature, pressure (or volume) constitutes an external influence and the equilibrium quantities will change as a result of such a change. If there is a possibility that the composition might change, but the rate of change is negligibly slow, the system is said to be in a metastable state. The equation of chemical equilibrium can be expressed symbolically as

reactant(s) ⇌ product(s)

The sign ⇌ means "are in equilibrium with". This definition refers to macroscopic properties. Changes do occur at the microscopic level of atoms and molecules, but to such a minute extent that they are not measurable and in a balanced way so that the macroscopic quantities do not change. Chemical equilibrium is a dynamic state in which forward and backward reactions proceed at such rates that the macroscopic composition of the mixture is constant. Thus, equilibrium sign ⇌ symbolizes the fact that reactions occur in both forward ${\displaystyle \rightharpoonup }$ and backward ${\displaystyle \leftharpoondown }$ directions.

A steady state, on the other hand, is not necessarily an equilibrium state in the chemical sense. For example, in a radioactive decay chain the concentrations of intermediate isotopes are constant because the rate of production is equal to the rate of decay. It is not a chemical equilibrium because the decay process occurs in one direction only.

Thermodynamic equilibrium is characterized by the free energy for the whole (closed) system being a minimum. For systems at constant volume the Helmholtz free energy is minimum and for systems at constant pressure the Gibbs free energy is minimum.[3] Thus a metastable state is one for which the free energy change between reactants and products is not minimal even though the composition does not change in time.[4]

The existence of this minimum is due to the free energy of mixing of reactants and products being always negative.[5] For ideal solutions the enthalpy of mixing is zero, so the minimum exists because the entropy of mixing is always positive.[6][7] The slope of the reaction free energy, δG_r with respect to the reaction coordinate, ξ, is zero when the free energy is at its minimum value.

${\displaystyle \delta G_{\mathrm {r} }=\left({\frac {\partial G}{\partial \xi }}\right)_{T,P};\quad \delta G_{\mathrm {r} }(\mathrm {Eq} )=0}$

Chemical potential is the partial molar free energy. The potential, μ_i, of the ith species in a chemical reaction is the partial derivative of the free energy with respect to the number of moles of that species, N_i:

${\displaystyle \mu _{i}=\left({\frac {\partial G}{\partial N_{i}}}\right)_{T,P}}$

A general chemical equilibrium can be written as[note 1]

${\displaystyle \sum _{j}n_{j}\mathrm {Reactant} _{j}\rightleftharpoons \sum _{k}m_{k}\mathrm {Product} _{k}}$

n_j are the stoichiometric coefficients of the reactants in the equilibrium equation, and m_j are the coefficients of the products. The value of δG_r for these reactions is a function of the chemical potentials of all the species.

${\displaystyle \delta G_{\mathrm {r} }=\sum _{k}m_{k}\mu _{k}\,-\sum _{j}n_{j}\mu _{j}}$

The chemical potential, μ_i, of the ith species can be calculated in terms of its activity, a_i.

${\displaystyle \mu _{i}=\mu _{i}^{\ominus }+RT\ln a_{i}}$

μ^o
_i is the standard chemical potential of the species, R is the gas constant and T is the temperature. Setting the sum for the reactants j to be equal to the sum for the products, k, so that δG_r(Eq) = 0:

${\displaystyle \sum _{j}n_{j}\left(\mu _{j}^{\ominus }+RT\ln a_{j}\right)=\sum _{k}m_{k}\left(\mu _{k}^{\ominus }+RT\ln a_{k}\right)}$

Rearranging the terms,

${\displaystyle \sum _{k}m_{k}\mu _{k}^{\ominus }-\sum _{j}n_{j}\mu _{j}^{\ominus }=-RT\left(\sum _{k}\ln {a_{k}}^{m_{k}}-\sum _{j}\ln {a_{j}}^{n_{j}}\right)}$

${\displaystyle \Delta G^{\ominus }=-RT\ln K.}$

This relates the standard Gibbs free energy change, ΔG^o to an equilibrium constant, K, the reaction quotient of activity values at equilibrium.

${\displaystyle \Delta G^{\ominus }=\sum _{k}m_{k}\mu _{k}^{\ominus }-\sum _{j}n_{j}\mu _{j}^{\ominus }}$

${\displaystyle \ln K=\sum _{k}\ln {a_{k}}^{m_{k}}-\sum _{j}\ln {a_{j}}^{n_{j}};\quad K={\frac {\prod _{k}{a_{k}}^{m_{k}}}{\prod _{j}{a_{j}}^{n_{j}}}}}$

It follows that any equilibrium of this kind can be characterized either by the standard free energy change or by the equilibrium constant. In practice concentrations are more useful than activities. Activities can be calculated from concentrations if the activity coefficient are known, but this is rarely the case. Sometimes activity coefficients can be calculated using, for example, Pitzer equations or Specific ion interaction theory. Otherwise conditions must be adjusted so that activity coefficients do not vary much. For ionic solutions this is achieved by using a background ionic medium at a high concentration relative to the concentrations of the species in equilibrium.

If activity coefficients are unknown they may be subsumed into the equilibrium constant, which becomes a concentration quotient.[8] Each activity a_i is assumed to be the product of a concentration, [A_i], and an activity coefficient, γ_i:

${\displaystyle a_{i}=[\mathrm {A} _{i}]\gamma _{i}}$

This expression for activity is placed in the expression defining the equilibrium constant.[9]

${\displaystyle K={\frac {\prod _{k}{a_{k}}^{m_{k}}}{\prod _{j}{a_{j}}^{n_{j}}}}={\frac {\prod _{k}\left([\mathrm {A} _{k}]\gamma _{k}\right)^{m_{k}}}{\prod _{j}\left([\mathrm {A} _{j}]\gamma _{j}\right)^{n_{j}}}}={\frac {\prod _{k}[\mathrm {A} _{k}]^{m_{k}}}{\prod _{j}[\mathrm {A} _{j}]^{n_{j}}}}\times {\frac {\prod _{k}{\gamma _{k}}^{m_{k}}}{\prod _{j}{\gamma _{j}}^{n_{j}}}}={\frac {\prod _{k}[\mathrm {A} _{k}]^{m_{k}}}{\prod _{j}[\mathrm {A} _{j}]^{n_{j}}}}\times \Gamma }$

By setting the quotient of activity coefficients, Γ, equal to one,[note 2] the equilibrium constant is defined as a quotient of concentrations.

${\displaystyle K={\frac {\prod _{k}[\mathrm {A} _{k}]^{m_{k}}}{\prod _{j}[\mathrm {A} _{j}]^{n_{j}}}}}$

In more familiar notation, for a general equilibrium

α A + β B ... ⇌ σ S + τ T ...

${\displaystyle K={\frac {[\mathrm {S} ]^{\sigma }[\mathrm {T} ]^{\tau }...}{[\mathrm {A} ]^{\alpha }[\mathrm {B} ]^{\beta }...}}}$

This definition is much more practical, but an equilibrium constant defined in terms of concentrations is dependent on conditions. In particular, equilibrium constants for species in aqueous solution are dependent on ionic strength, as the quotient of activity coefficients varies with the ionic strength of the solution.

The values of the standard free energy change and of the equilibrium constant are temperature dependent. To a first approximation, the van 't Hoff equation may be used.

${\displaystyle {\frac {d\ln K}{dT}}\ ={\frac {\Delta H^{\ominus }}{RT^{2}}}\quad {\mbox{ or }}\quad {\frac {d\ln K}{d{\tfrac {1}{T}}}}\ =-{\frac {\Delta H^{\ominus }}{R}}}$

This shows that when the reaction is exothermic (ΔH^o, the standard enthalpy change, is negative), then K decreases with increasing temperature, in accordance with Le Châtelier's principle. The approximation involved is that the standard enthalpy change, ΔH^o, is independent of temperature, which is a good approximation only over a small temperature range. Thermodynamic arguments can be used to show that

${\displaystyle \left({\frac {\partial H}{\partial T}}\right)_{p}=C_{p}}$

where C_p is the heat capacity at constant pressure.[10]

Brønsted and Lowry characterized an acid–base equilibrium as involving a proton exchange reaction:[18][19][20]

acid + base ⇌ conjugate base + conjugate acid.

An acid is a proton donor; the proton is transferred to the base, a proton acceptor, creating a conjugate acid. For aqueous solutions of an acid HA, the base is water; the conjugate base is A⁻ and the conjugate acid is the solvated hydrogen ion. In solution chemistry, it is usual to use H⁺ as an abbreviation for the solvated hydrogen ion, regardless of the solvent. In aqueous solution H⁺ denotes a solvated hydronium ion.[21][22][note 4]

The Brønsted–Lowry definition applies to other solvents, such as dimethyl sulfoxide: the solvent S acts as a base, accepting a proton and forming the conjugate acid SH⁺. A broader definition of acid dissociation includes hydrolysis, in which protons are produced by the splitting of water molecules. For example, boric acid, B(OH)
₃, acts as a weak acid, even though it is not a proton donor, because of the hydrolysis equilibrium

B(OH)
₃ + H
₂O ⇌ B(OH)⁻
₄ + H⁺.

Similarly, metal ion hydrolysis causes ions such as [Al(H
₂O)
₆]³⁺
to behave as weak acids:[23]

[Al(H
₂O)
₆]³⁺
⇌ [Al(H
₂O)
₅(OH)]²⁺
+ H⁺
.

Acid–base equilibria are important in a very wide range of applications, such as acid–base homeostasis, ocean acidification, pharmacology and analytical chemistry.

A host–guest complex, also known as a donor–acceptor complex, may be formed from a Lewis base, B, and a Lewis acid, A. The host may be either a donor or an acceptor. In biochemistry host–guest complexes are known as receptor-ligand complexes; they are formed primarily by non-covalent bonding. Many host–guest complexes has 1:1 stoichiometry, but many others have more complex structures. The general equilibrium can be written as

p A + q B ⇌ A_pB_q

The study of these complexes is important for supramolecular chemistry[24][25] and molecular recognition. The objective of these studies is often to find systems with a high binding selectivity of a host (receptor) for a particular target molecule or ion, the guest or ligand. An application is the development of chemical sensors.[26] Finding a drug which either blocks a receptor, an antagonist which forms a strong complex the receptor, or activate it, an agonist, is an important pathway to drug discovery.[27]

The formation of a complex between a metal ion, M, and a ligand, L, is in fact usually a substitution reaction. For example, In aqueous solutions, metal ions will be present as aquo ions, so the reaction for the formation of the first complex could be written as[note 5]

[M(H₂O)_n] + L ⇌ [M(H₂O)_n−1L] + H₂O

However, since water is in vast excess, the concentration of water is usually assumed to be constant and is omitted from equilibrium constant expressions. Often, the metal and the ligand are in competition for protons.[note 4] For the equilibrium

p M + q L + r H ⇌ M_pL_qH_r

a stability constant can be defined as follows:[28][29]

${\displaystyle \beta _{pqr}={\frac {[\mathrm {M} _{p}\mathrm {L} _{q}\mathrm {H} _{r}]}{[\mathrm {M} ]^{p}[\mathrm {L} ]^{q}[\mathrm {H} ]^{r}}}}$

The definition can easily be extended to include any number of reagents. It includes hydroxide complexes because the concentration of the hydroxide ions is related to the concentration of hydrogen ions by the self-ionization of water

${\displaystyle [{\ce {OH-}}]={\frac {K_{\mathrm {w} }}{[{\ce {H+}}]}}}$

Stability constants defined in this way, are association constants. This can lead to some confusion as pK_a values are dissociation constants. In general purpose computer programs it is customary to define all constants as association constants. The relationship between the two types of constant is given in association and dissociation constants.

In biochemistry, an oxygen molecule can bind to an iron(II) atom in a heme prosthetic group in hemoglobin. The equilibrium is usually written, denoting hemoglobin by Hb, as

Hb + O₂ ⇌ HbO₂

but this representation is incomplete as the Bohr effect shows that the equilibrium concentrations are pH-dependent. A better representation would be

[HbH]⁺ + O₂ ⇌ HbO₂ + H⁺

as this shows that when hydrogen ion concentration increases the equilibrium is shifted to the left in accordance with Le Châtelier's principle. Hydrogen ion concentration can be increased by the presence of carbon dioxide, which behaves as a weak acid.

H₂O + CO₂ ⇌ HCO⁻
₃ + H⁺

The iron atom can also bind to other molecules such as carbon monoxide. Cigarette smoke contains some carbon monoxide so the equilibrium

HbO₂ + CO ⇌ Hb(CO) + O₂

is established in the blood of cigarette smokers.

Chelation therapy is based on the principle of using chelating ligands with a high binding selectivity for a particular metal to remove that metal from the human body.

Complexes with polyamino carboxylic acids find a wide range of applications. EDTA in particular is used extensively.

A reduction–oxidation (redox) equilibrium can be handled in exactly the same way as any other chemical equilibrium. For example,

Fe²⁺ + Ce⁴⁺ ⇌ Fe³⁺ + Ce³⁺;     ${\displaystyle K={\frac {[{\ce {Fe^3+}}][{\ce {Ce^3+}}]}{[{\ce {Fe^2+}}][{\ce {Ce^4+}}]}}}$

However, in the case of redox reactions it is convenient to split the overall reaction into two half-reactions. In this example

Fe³⁺ + e⁻ ⇌ Fe²⁺

Ce⁴⁺ + e⁻ ⇌ Ce³⁺

The standard free energy change, which is related to the equilibrium constant by

${\displaystyle \Delta G^{\ominus }=-RT\ln K\,}$

can be split into two components,

${\displaystyle \Delta G^{\ominus }=\Delta G_{{\ce {Fe}}}^{\ominus }+\Delta G_{{\ce {Ce}}}^{\ominus }}$

The concentration of free electrons is effectively zero as the electrons are transferred directly from the reductant to the oxidant. The standard electrode potential, E⁰ for the each half-reaction is related to the standard free energy change by[30]

${\displaystyle \Delta G_{{\ce {Fe}}}^{\ominus }=-nFE_{{\ce {Fe}}}^{0};\Delta G_{{\ce {Ce}}}^{\ominus }=-nFE_{{\ce {Ce}}}^{0}}$

where n is the number of electrons transferred and F is the Faraday constant. Now, the free energy for an actual reaction is given by

${\displaystyle \Delta G=\Delta G^{\ominus }+RT\ln Q}$

where R is the gas constant and Q a reaction quotient. Strictly speaking Q is a quotient of activities, but it is common practice to use concentrations instead of activities. Therefore:

${\displaystyle E_{{\ce {Fe}}}=E_{{\ce {Fe}}}^{0}+{\frac {RT}{nF}}\ln {\frac {[{\ce {Fe^3+}}]}{[{\ce {Fe^2+}}]}}}$

For any half-reaction, the redox potential of an actual mixture is given by the generalized expression[note 6]

${\displaystyle E=E^{0}+{\frac {RT}{nF}}\ln {\frac {[{\text{oxidized species}}]}{[{\text{reduced species}}]}}}$

This is an example of the Nernst equation. The potential is known as a reduction potential. Standard electrode potentials are available in a table of values. Using these values, the actual electrode potential for a redox couple can be calculated as a function of the ratio of concentrations.

The equilibrium potential for a general redox half-reaction (See #Equilibrium constant above for an explanation of the symbols)

α A + β B... + n e⁻ ⇌ σ S + τ T...

is given by[31]

${\displaystyle E=E^{\ominus }+{\frac {RT}{nF}}\ln {\frac {{\{{\ce {S}}\}}^{\sigma }{\{{\ce {T}}\}}^{\tau }...}{{\{{\ce {A}}\}}^{\alpha }{\{{\ce {B}}\}}^{\beta }...}}}$

Use of this expression allows the effect of a species not involved in the redox reaction, such as the hydrogen ion in a half-reaction such as

MnO⁻
₄ + 8 H⁺ + 5 e⁻ ⇌ Mn²⁺ + 4 H₂O

to be taken into account.

The equilibrium constant for a full redox reaction can be obtained from the standard redox potentials of the constituent half-reactions. At equilibrium the potential for the two half-reactions must be equal to each other and, of course, the number of electrons exchanged must be the same in the two half reactions.[32]

Redox equilibrium play an important role in the electron transport chain. The various cytochromes in the chain have different standard redox potentials, each one adapted for a specific redox reaction. This allows, for example, atmospheric oxygen to be reduced in photosynthesis. A distinct family of cytochromes, the cytochrome P450 oxidases, are involved in steroidogenesis and detoxification.

When a solute forms a saturated solution in a solvent, the concentration of the solute, at a given temperature, is determined by the equilibrium constant at that temperature.[33]

${\displaystyle \ln K=-RT\ln \left({\frac {\sum _{k}{a_{k}}^{m_{k}}\mathrm {(solution)} }{a\mathrm {(solid)} }}\right)}$

The activity of a pure substance in the solid state is one, by definition, so the expression simplifies to

${\displaystyle \ln K=-RT\ln \left(\sum _{k}{a_{k}}^{m_{k}}\mathrm {(solution)} \right)}$

If the solute does not dissociate the summation is replaced by a single term, but if dissociation occurs, as with ionic substances

${\displaystyle K_{\mathrm {SP} }=\prod _{k}{{a_{k}}^{m_{k}}}}$

For example, with Na₂SO₄, m₁ = 2 and m₂ = 1 so the solubility product is written as

${\displaystyle K_{\mathrm {SP} }=[\mathrm {Na^{+}} ]^{2}[\mathrm {SO_{4}^{2-}} ]}$

Concentrations, indicated by [...], are usually used in place of activities, but activity must be taken into account of the presence of another salt with no ions in common, the so-called salt effect. When another salt is present that has an ion in common, the common-ion effect comes into play, reducing the solubility of the primary solute.[34]

When a solution of a substance in one solvent is brought into equilibrium with a second solvent that is immiscible with the first solvent, the dissolved substance may be partitioned between the two solvents. The ratio of concentrations in the two solvents is known as a partition coefficient or distribution coefficient.[note 7] The partition coefficient is defined as the ratio of the analytical concentrations of the solute in the two phases. By convention the value is reported in logarithmic form.

${\displaystyle \log p=\log {\frac {[\mathrm {solute} ]_{\mathrm {organic\;phase} }}{[\mathrm {solute} ]_{\mathrm {aqueous\;phase} }}}}$

The partition coefficient is defined at a specified temperature and, if applicable, pH of the aqueous phase. Partition coefficients are very important in pharmacology because they determine the extent to which a substance can pass from the blood (an aqueous solution) through a cell wall which is like an organic solvent. They are usually measured using water and octanol as the two solvents, yielding the so-called octanol-water partition coefficient. Many pharmaceutical compounds are weak acids or weak bases. Such a compound may exist with a different extent of protonation depending on pH and the acid dissociation constant. Because the organic phase has a low dielectric constant the species with no electrical charge will be the most likely one to pass from the aqueous phase to the organic phase. Even at pH 7–7.2, the range of biological pH values, the aqueous phase may support an equilibrium between more than one protonated form. log p is determined from the analytical concentration of the substance in the aqueous phase, that is, the sum of the concentration of the different species in equilibrium.

Solvent extraction is used extensively in separation and purification processes. In its simplest form a reaction is performed in an organic solvent and unwanted by-products are removed by extraction into water at a particular pH.

A metal ion may be extracted from an aqueous phase into an organic phase in which the salt is not soluble, by adding a ligand. The ligand, L^a−, forms a complex with the metal ion, M^b+, [ML_x]^(b−ax)+ which has a strongly hydrophobic outer surface. If the complex has no electrical charge it will be extracted relatively easily into the organic phase. If the complex is charged, it is extracted as an ion pair. The additional ligand is not always required. For example, uranyl nitrate, UO₂(NO₃)₂, is soluble in diethyl ether because the solvent itself acts as a ligand. This property was used in the past for separating uranium from other metals whose salts are not soluble in ether. Currently extraction into kerosene is preferred, using a ligand such as tri-n-butyl phosphate, TBP. In the PUREX process, which is commonly used in nuclear reprocessing, uranium(VI) is extracted from strong nitric acid as the electrically neutral complex [UO₂(TBP)₂(NO₃)₂]. The strong nitric acid provides a high concentration of nitrate ions which pushes the equilibrium in favour of the weak nitrato complex. Uranium is recovered by back-extraction (stripping) into weak nitric acid. Plutonium(IV) forms a similar complex, [PuO₂(TBP)₂(NO₃)₂] and the plutonium in this complex can be reduced to separate it from uranium.

Another important application of solvent extraction is in the separation of the lanthanoids. This process also uses TBP and the complexes are extracted into kerosene. Separation is achieved because the stability constant for the formation of the TBP complex increases as the size of the lanthanoid ion decreases.

An instance of ion-pair extraction is in the use of a ligand to enable oxidation by potassium permanganate, KMnO₄, in an organic solvent. KMnO₄ is not soluble in organic solvents. When a ligand, such as a crown ether is added to an aqueous solution of KMnO₄, it forms a hydrophobic complex with the potassium cation which allows the uncharged ion pair [KL]⁺[MnO₄]⁻ to be extracted into the organic solvent. See also: phase-transfer catalysis.

More complex partitioning problems (i.e. 3 or more phases present) can sometimes be handled with a fugacity capacity approach.

In chromatography substances are separated by partition between a stationary phase and a mobile phase. The analyte is dissolved in the mobile phase, and passes over the stationary phase. Separation occurs because of differing affinities of the analytes for the stationary phase. A distribution constant, K_d can be defined as

${\displaystyle K_{\mathrm {d} }={\frac {a_{\mathrm {s} }}{a_{\mathrm {m} }}}}$

where a_s and a_m are the equilibrium activities in the stationary and mobile phases respectively. It can be shown that the rate of migration, ν, is related to the distribution constant by

${\displaystyle {\bar {\nu }}\propto {\frac {1}{1+fK_{\mathrm {d} }}}.}$

f is a factor which depends on the volumes of the two phases.[35] Thus, the higher the affinity of the solute for the stationary phase, the slower the migration rate.

There is a wide variety of chromatographic techniques, depending on the nature of the stationary and mobile phases. When the stationary phase is solid, the analyte may form a complex with it. A water softener functions by selective complexation with a sulfonate ion exchange resin. Sodium ions form relatively weak complexes with the resin. When hard water is passed through the resin, the divalent ions of magnesium and calcium displace the sodium ions and are retained on the resin, R.

RNa + M²⁺ ⇌ RM⁺ + Na⁺

The water coming out of the column is relatively rich in sodium ions[note 8] and poor in calcium and magnesium which are retained on the column. The column is regenerated by passing a strong solution of sodium chloride through it, so that the resin–sodium complex is again formed on the column. Ion-exchange chromatography utilizes a resin such as chelex 100 in which iminodiacetate residues, attached to a polymer backbone, form chelate complexes of differing strengths with different metal ions, allowing the ions such as Cu²⁺ and Ni²⁺ to be separated chromatographically.

Another example of complex formation is in chiral chromatography in which is used to separate enantiomers from each other. The stationary phase is itself chiral and forms complexes selectively with the enantiomers. In other types of chromatography with a solid stationary phase, such as thin-layer chromatography the analyte is selectively adsorbed onto the solid.

In gas–liquid chromatography (GLC) the stationary phase is a liquid such as polydimethylsiloxane, coated on a glass tube. Separation is achieved because the various components in the gas have different solubility in the stationary phase. GLC can be used to separate literally hundreds of components in a gas mixture such as cigarette smoke or essential oils, such as lavender oil.

• Thermodynamic databases for pure substances

• Chemical Equilibrium Downloadable book

• Atkins, P.W.; De Paula, J. (2006). Physical Chemistry (8th. ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-870072-5.
• Denbeigh, K. (1981). The principles of chemical equilibrium (4th. ed.). Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-28150-4. A classic book, last reprinted in 1997.
• Mendham, J.; Denney, R. C.; Barnes, J. D.; Thomas, M. J. K. (2000), Vogel's Quantitative Chemical Analysis (6th ed.), New York: Prentice Hall, ISBN 0-582-22628-7

• Media related to Equilibrium chemistry at Wikimedia Commons