Final answer:
When starting equilibrium-related problems, identify the type of problem, use an ice chart, write the balanced chemical equation, and set up the appropriate expressions to solve for either the equilibrium constant or the equilibrium concentrations.
Step-by-step explanation:
A good place to start with equilibrium-related problems is to understand the type of problem you're dealing with. There are two main types:
Problems where concentrations of reactants and products at equilibrium are given or can be inferred, requiring calculation of the equilibrium constant.
Problems where the equilibrium constant and initial concentrations are known, and the goal is to determine the concentrations at equilibrium.
In both cases, starting with ice charts (Initial, Change, Equilibrium) is often beneficial. For the first type of problem, you can set up an expression based on the known concentrations to solve for the equilibrium constant. In the second type, you can use the given equilibrium constant and the initial concentrations to calculate the changes that occur as the system reaches equilibrium. For both scenarios, it's essential to write the balanced chemical equation and establish the relation between reactants and products.