How to find equilibrium pressure when volume changes

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SUMMARY

The equilibrium pressure of a gas mixture containing N2O4 and NO2 at 350K, after doubling the volume, can be calculated using Le Chatelier's principle and the equilibrium constant. Initially, the partial pressures are P(N2O4) = 0.27 atm and P(NO2) = 1.2 atm. Upon volume doubling, the equilibrium shifts to the right, resulting in new pressures of P(N2O4) = 0.04 atm and P(NO2) = 0.46 atm. The equilibrium constant remains unchanged as it is dependent solely on temperature.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Le Chatelier's principle
  • Knowledge of equilibrium constants and their dependence on temperature
  • Familiarity with ICE (Initial, Change, Equilibrium) tables
  • Basic concepts of gas laws, specifically the ideal gas law (PV=nRT)
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation and application of the equilibrium constant (K) in chemical reactions
  • Learn how to construct and interpret ICE tables for equilibrium problems
  • Explore the effects of temperature changes on equilibrium systems
  • Investigate the relationship between pressure, volume, and temperature in gas laws
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Chemistry students, chemical engineers, and anyone studying dynamic equilibrium in gas-phase reactions will benefit from this discussion.

dnt
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question: an equilibrium mixture contains N2O4 (P=0.27 atm) and NO2 (P=1.2 atm) at 350K. the volume is doubled at constant temperature. calculate the equilibrium pressure of both at new equilibrium.

what i know: when you double volume, pressure is halved and le chatliers principle says the equation will shift to the side with more moles of gas:

N2O4 <--> 2NO2

which in this case will shift to the right.

and i also know you cannot simply just half the pressures of each.

how do i start the rest of this problem? is it an ICE problem? any help to get started would be appreciated. thanks.
 
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dnt said:
question: an equilibrium mixture contains N2O4 (P=0.27 atm) and NO2 (P=1.2 atm) at 350K. the volume is doubled at constant temperature. calculate the equilibrium pressure of both at new equilibrium.
what i know: when you double volume, pressure is halved and le chatliers principle says the equation will shift to the side with more moles of gas:
N2O4 <--> 2NO2
which in this case will shift to the right.
and i also know you cannot simply just half the pressures of each.
how do i start the rest of this problem? is it an ICE problem? any help to get started would be appreciated. thanks.
That's right, when the volume doubles, the pressure decreases. and the nb of particles increases too. But after a short time, the system is back to equilibrium according to Le Chatliers principle. It means that the equilibrium constant (K) remains unchanged.
Remember that the equilibrium constant is only dependent of the temperature (T), according

\ln(\frac{K_2}{K_1})=-\frac{\Delta H}{R}({1\over T_2}\,-\,{1\over T_1})

\Delta H:\,\,\,is \,\,entalpy
 
still a little confused. does this mean the partial pressure does not change as volume changes? i don't understand why the number pf particles increases too - where do these extra particles come from?

and therefore, if volume and pressure changes do not change equilibrium partial pressures (if i am reading that correctly) what does? is temperature the only thing?
 
dnt said:
still a little confused. does this mean the partial pressure does not change as volume changes? i don't understand why the number pf particles increases too - where do these extra particles come from?
and therefore, if volume and pressure changes do not change equilibrium partial pressures (if i am reading that correctly) what does? is temperature the only thing?
OK, I will try to explain. Despite english is not my language. Of course if volume (V) increases, the nb of particles (N) increases according pV = nRT and you know that n = N/NA, and pressure will diminish. But it's easy to calculate the new equilibrium pressure with this method, Given the reaction:

N_2O_4 \leftrightharpoons 2NO_2

P(start): P(N_2O_4)=0,27 \,\, and \,\, P(NO_2)=1,2

\Delta P(N_2O_4)=-x\,\,and\,\,\Delta P(NO_2)=2x

\Delta P_{eq}(N_2O_4)=0,27-x\,\,and\,\,\Delta P_{eq}(NO_2)=2x

K=5,33=\frac{(P(NO_2))^2}{P(N_2O_4}=\frac{(2x)^2}{0,27-x}

solve this eqation, and we get x = 0,23
that is

P(N_2O_4)=0,04\,atm
and
P(NO_2)=0,46\,atm
 
where did you get K = 5.33? and is that Kp or Kc? and why isn't Peq for NO2 = 1.2 + 2x? where did the 1.2 go?

thanks for all your help.
 

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