INTRODUCTION

Generally, many chemical reactions happen reversibly where the forward and reverse
reactions might occur simultaneously. Since the rates for forward and reverse reactions are
equal, there are no net changes in the concentrations of the reactant(s) and product(s). This
state is known as dynamic equilibrium. Equilibrium is defined as a state where there will be no
changes is observed on the reaction as time goes by as long as the reaction stay undisturbed.
At equilibrium, the ratio of concentration of products to the concentration of reactants is known
as Equilibrium Constant, Kc.

When an external stress is applied to a chemical reaction at equilibrium, the reaction

will react in a way to minimize the effect of the external stress. Several factors may be
considered as the external stress e.g. increasing or decreasing of concentration of reactants or
products, change of temperature, change of pressure and change of volume. These factors will
be minimized according to the Principle of Le Chatelier. In this experiment, the effect of
concentration on different chemical systems (solution equilibria and complex ion equilibria)
will be studied. The second part of the experiment is about the determination of Kc value for
the hydrolysis of ethyl acetate according to the reaction below.

CH3COOCH2CH3 (aq) CH3CH2OH (aq) CH3COOH (aq)

H2O (l)
Ethyl Acetate + ↔ Ethanol + Acetic Acid
Water
(EtAc) (EtOH) (HAc)
The equilibrium expression for the reaction is written as :

𝐸𝑡𝑂𝐻 + 𝐻𝐴𝑐
𝐾𝑐 =
𝐸𝑡𝐴𝐶 + 𝐻20

In order to calculate the equilibrium constant, Kc for a reaction, it is necessary to know

the initial concentrations of the reactants and products and to be able to determine the
equilibrium concentration of one of the reacting species. By using the concept of ICE table, the
changes in the concentrations of reactants and products could be determined and later will be
used to determine their equilibrium concentrations.

Normally the concentration of a pure liquid such as water does not appear in the
equilibrium expression because its concentration does not vary significantly during the course
of the reaction. However, in this experiment water is present in a concentration that does change
as the reaction progresses and therefore must be included in the equilibrium expression.
The hydrolysis of ethyl acetate is usually a very slow reaction. So, a fix amount of hydrochloric
acid is added to the mixture and is used as the catalyst, but it concentration does not appear in
the equilibrium expression.
REFERENCES
1. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, Chemical Equilibrium, Encyclopaedia
Britannica, May 02 2016
https://www.britannica.com/science/chemical-equilibrium
2. Theories in the Evolution of Chemical Equilibrium: Implications for its Teaching and
Learning
http://www.euchems.eu/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/75-Quilez_.pdf

3. Libre Texts Principle of Chemical Equilibrium

https://chem.libretexts.org/Core/Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry/Equilibria/Che
mical_Equilibria/Principles_of_Chemical_Equilibria/Principles_of_Chemical_Equilib
rium
4. General Chemistry: Principles & Modern Applications 9th edition.
5. Le Chatelier’s Principle
https://www.chemguide.co.uk/physical/equilibria/lechatelier.html
http://chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/topicreview/bp/ch16/lechat.html