Final answer:
To calculate the equilibrium constant (K) for the reaction of nitrogen and hydrogen to form ammonia at a given temperature, use the equilibrium concentrations in the formula K = [NH3]^2/([N2][H2]^3).
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculator the equilibrium constant (K) for the reaction N2(g) + 3H2(g) ⇌ 2NH3(g) at a specific absolute temperature, you can use the concentrations of the gases at equilibrium.
The general expression for the equilibrium constant (K) for this reaction is K = [NH3]^2/([N2][H2]^3), where the square brackets denote the molarity (concentration in moles per liter) of each species when the reaction is at equilibrium. To find the value of K at a given temperature, plug in the equilibrium concentrations of the reactants and products into this formula.
For example, if at 500 °C the equilibrium concentrations are 1.35 M H2, 1.15 M N2, and 4.12 x 10−1 M NH3, you would calculate K as follows:
K = [4.12 x 10−1]^2 / ([1.15][1.35]^3)
It's important to note that K is temperature dependent, and the values at various temperatures given (e.g., K25°C 3.3 × 109, K177°C 2.6 × 103, K327°C 4.1) indicate that the position of equilibrium shifts with changes in temperature.