Discovering the Thermodynamics of Simultaneous Equilibria. An Entropy Analysis Activity Involving Consecutive Equilibria

Thomas H. Bindel
Pomona High School, Arvada, CO 80005-2515
J. Chem. Educ., 2007, 84 (3), p 449
DOI: 10.1021/ed084p449
Publication Date (Web): March 1, 2007
History, Education, and Documentation

Abstract

An activity is presented in which the thermodynamics of simultaneous, consecutive equilibria are explored. The activity is appropriate for second-year high school or AP chemistry. Students discover that a reactant-favored (entropy-diminishing or endergonic) reaction can be caused to happen if it is coupled with a product-favored reaction of sufficient entropy production or exergonicity. A variety of six product-favoring reactions are individually coupled with the reactant-favored reaction. The experimental results are correlated with the change in the entropies of the universe (ΔSuniv), the change in the standard-state free energies (ΔrG°), and the various equilibrium constants (K).

Keywords (Audience):

First-Year Undergraduate / General

Keywords (Domain):

Physical Chemistry

Keywords (Feature):

Secondary School Chemistry

Keywords (Pedagogy):

Hands-On Learning / Manipulatives

Keywords (Subject):

Acids / Bases
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History

  • Received: August 03, 2009

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