Final answer:
An equilibrium constant (K) greater than one means the reaction favors the formation of products over reactants, with a higher concentration of products at equilibrium.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the equilibrium constant (K) is greater than one, it signifies that the concentration of products is higher than the concentration of reactants at equilibrium. This often means that the reaction tends to favor the formation of products. The general interpretation of a K value greater than one is that the products are favored over reactants.
An example of an equilibrium with a large K value is the reaction between hydrogen (H₂) and chlorine (Cl₂) to produce hydrogen chloride (HCl), which has a K value of 1.6 × 10³³ at 300 K, indicating a reaction that proceeds nearly to completion.
Calculations with equilibrium constants are crucial for predicting the extent of a reaction and determining how much of each substance will be present at equilibrium. Equilibrium constant expressions provide valuable insights for chemists to understand and control chemical reactions effectively.