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When Keq is large, which has lower free energy: products or reactants?

User Zipp
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Final answer:

A large Keq indicates that the products are favored at equilibrium, meaning that they have lower free energy compared to reactants. This corresponds to a negative ΔGº, suggesting a spontaneous reaction towards product formation.

Step-by-step explanation:

When Keq is large, it indicates that the equilibrium position is heavily skewed towards the products. This implies that the products have a lower free energy compared to the reactants because a large Keq suggests a reaction that "goes to completion," where most of the reactants are converted into products. On the other hand, a small Keq would suggest that the reactants are favored, and the reaction does not proceed extensively to form products. The equilibrium constant (Keq) is a reflection of the relative concentrations of the products and reactants at equilibrium, and it is tied to the standard free energy change (ΔGº) of the reaction. For a large Keq, which means the value is significantly greater than 1, the ΔGº is negative, indicating that the reaction is spontaneous in the direction of forming products.

User Paul Kenjora
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