Question

Deduce the extent of a reaction from the magnitude of the equilibrium constant

K c.
a) The reaction is highly favored in the forward direction.
b) The reaction is favored in the reverse direction.
c) The reaction is at equilibrium.
d) The extent cannot be determined from K c alone.

Answer 1

The magnitude of the equilibrium constant (Kc) suggests how much the reaction favors the formation of products or reactants; a large Kc favors products, a small Kc favors reactants, and when Kc equals 1, the system is at equilibrium.

Step-by-step explanation:

The magnitude of the equilibrium constant (Kc) provides insights into the extent of a reaction. When Kc is notably larger than 1, it indicates that the reaction is highly favored in the forward direction, leading to the formation of products. In contrast, if Kc is significantly less than 1, it suggests the reaction is favored in the reverse direction, favoring the formation of reactants.

When Kc is equal to 1, the reaction is at equilibrium with neither reactants nor products being favored. Finally, it is important to note that Kc alone does not provide information about the rate at which equilibrium is reached.