PowerPoint Slides for Cambridge IGCSETM Chemistry Student’s Book

CHAPTER 10
Reversible
Reactions
and
Equilibrium

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 PowerPoint Slides for Cambridge IGCSETM Chemistry Student’s Book

Questions
• Why is respiration important?
• Many athletes train at high altitudes. The lack of oxygen in
the air results in the production of more haemoglobin in
their blood. How does this help the athletes?
• A person with anaemia does not have enough red blood
cells or haemoglobin. How does this make a person with
anaemia feel?

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10.1 Reversible Reactions

In this section, you will learn the following:
• State that some chemical reactions are reversible.
• Describe how changing the conditions can change the
direction of a reversible reaction for the effect of heat on
hydrated compounds; the addition of water to
anhydrous compounds.
• State that a reversible reaction in a closed system is
at equilibrium when the concentrations of reactants and
products remain unchanged; the rates of forward and
reverse reactions are equal.
• Predict and explain how the position of an
equilibrium can be affected by changes in temperature,
pressure, concentration and the use of a catalyst.

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 PowerPoint Slides for Cambridge IGCSETM Chemistry Student’s Book

10.1 Reversible Reactions

A reversible reaction is one in which the products can be changed back to their
original reactants.

In a reversible reaction,
• the forward and the backward reactions can take place at the same time;
• a double arrow sign, , is used to show a reversible reaction.

Example:

Burnt wood turns to ash.

This reaction cannot be reversed.

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Hydrated and anhydrous copper(II) sulfate

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How do reversible reactions reach a state of equilibrium?

Since the reaction is reversible, it should be written as:

Ammonium chloride decomposes to hydrogen chloride and

ammonia upon heating, but reforms on cooling

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What happens to the concentrations of reactants and products if a

reversible reaction occurs in a sealed container?

• The figure shows the concentration of reactants

decreasing and the concentration of products
increasing as a reversible reaction occurs.
• In a sealed container, the concentrations will
eventually remain unchanged.
• At this point, the reversible reaction has reached
a point of equilibrium.
How the concentrations of reactants and products
change over time in a reversible reaction

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How can we explain why the concentrations of reactants

and products do not change at equilibrium?
A chemical equilibrium is known as a dynamic equilibrium.
In a dynamic equilibrium, the rates of the forward movement and the backward movement are equal.

A dynamic equilibrium occurs when

• the concentrations of the reactants and
products remain unchanged over time;
• the forward and reverse reactions are
taking place at the same rate.
The man is
running forward while the
How the rates of the forward and reverse reactions change
track of the treadmill is
over time in a reversible reaction
moving towards the man.
A dynamic equilibrium occurs only in a closed system where no reactants or products can be lost.

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What happens to the equilibrium when we change the conditions of a

reaction?
The equilibrium can shift
• to make more products by moving in the forward direction;
• to reform more reactants by moving in the reverse direction.
When we change the conditions, the equilibrium position always moves to reduce the effects of the change.

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How does a change in temperature affect the position of the equilibrium?

Increase in shifts the equilibrium

Energy absorbed : Endothermic reaction
temperature in the direction of

Decrease in shifts the equilibrium

Energy absorbed : Exothermic reaction
temperature in the direction of

How does a change in pressure affect the position of the equilibrium?

In a reaction where some of the reactants and products are gases,

Increase in total shifts the equilibrium

Fewer gas particles
pressure in the direction of

Decrease in total shifts the equilibrium

More gas particles
pressure in the direction of

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How does a change in concentration affect the position of the equilibrium?

Increase in concentration shifts the equilibrium Reducing amount of substance that

(addition) in the direction of had increased

Decrease in shifts the equilibrium Increasing amount of substance that

concentration (removal) in the direction of had decreased

How does adding a catalyst affect the position of the equilibrium?

• A catalyst increases the rate of a chemical reaction.

Forward reaction
• It increases the forward and reverse reactions equally.
Reactants Products
• No effect on equilibrium position or yield.
Reverse reaction
• Equilibrium achieved in less time

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10.2 Manufacturing Ammonia by the Haber Process

In this section, you will learn the following:
• State the sources of the hydrogen and nitrogen
in the Haber process.
• State the symbol equation for the production of
ammonia in the Haber process.
• State the typical conditions in the Haber
process.
• Explain why the typical conditions are used in
the Haber process.

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10.2 Manufacturing Ammonia by the Haber Process

Consider the reaction between nitrogen and hydrogen to form ammonia.

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• Ammonia is manufactured industrially by the Haber process.

• The raw materials for the Haber process are nitrogen and hydrogen.

Raw materials for the Haber process

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What conditions are required for manufacturing ammonia?

For nitrogen to react with hydrogen to
form ammonia, a high pressure and a
relatively high temperature are needed.

Graph showing the yield of ammonia at different temperatures and pressures

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What are the typical conditions in the Haber process?

The best conditions for obtaining the maximum yield of ammonia at minimum cost in the Haber process are
• a pressure of 20 000 kPa;
• a temperature of 450°C;
• the presence of an iron catalyst.

Ammonia is used to make nitrogenous fertilisers. The fertilisers are

added to soil to make crops grow better.

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How is ammonia manufactured by the Haber process?

The Haber process for the manufacture of ammonia

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10.3 Manufacturing Sulfur Trioxide by the Contact Process

In this section, you will learn the following:
• State the sources of sulfur dioxide and oxygen in
the Contact process.
• State the symbol equation for the Contact process.
• State the typical conditions in the Contact process.
• Explain why the typical conditions are used in the
Contact process.

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10.3 Manufacturing Sulfur Trioxide by the Contact Process

• Sulfur trioxide is manufactured industrially by the Contact
process.
• The raw materials for the Contact process are sulfur
dioxide gas and oxygen gas.
• Sulfur dioxide is formed when sulfur burns in oxygen
(found in air). Sulfur dioxide is also obtained by roasting
sulfide ores.
• The raw materials react in a reversible reaction.
• The reaction is exothermic.

Sulfuric acid is used to make fertilisers that help plants to

grow better.

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What conditions are required for manufacturing sulfur trioxide?

In order to increase the yield of the product, the equilibrium
has to move to the right.

Conditions required Changes

Higher yield of SO3 Suitable temperature needed to produce
Decreased temperature high proportions of sulfur trioxide in a
Slowed rate of reaction short time

Higher yield of SO3 Lesser amount of moles on product side

Increased pressure
moves equilibrium to the right

• Increase in pressure can be expensive because special equipment and containers are required.
• There is also a safety risk because of the danger of explosions.

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What are the optimal conditions in the Contact process?

The best conditions for obtaining the maximum yield of sulfur trioxide at minimum
cost in the Contact process are
• a pressure of 200 kPa;
• a temperature of 450°C;
• the presence of a vanadium(V) oxide catalyst.

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How is sulfur trioxide manufactured by the Contact process?

The Contact process for the manufacture of sulfur trioxide

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What have you learnt?

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What have you learnt?

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Acknowledgements
• Slide 1: blood test - ID 1465857 © Wa Li | Dreamstime.com
• Slide 2: man running on edge near mountain photo © Brian Erickson | unsplash.com (https://unsplash.com/photos/XFneC_rHR48)
• Slide 4: fire in fireplace close up - ID: 19859231 © Denis Tabler | Dreamstime.com
• Slide 5: hydrated and anhydrous salts © MCE
• Slide 8: man running on a treadmill - ID 110833706 © Ljupco | Dreamstime.com
• Slide 16: nitrogenous fertilizer - ID 20344566 © Jochenschneider | Dreamstime.com
• Slide 19: fertiliser © iamporpla | 123rf.com

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