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Nitrogen and hydrogen were mixed in a 1:3 mole ratio and left to reach equilibrium in a flask at a temperature of 550 K - AQA - A-Level Chemistry - Question 2 - 2018 - Paper 1

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Nitrogen and hydrogen were mixed in a 1:3 mole ratio and left to reach equilibrium in a flask at a temperature of 550 K. The equation for the reaction between nitrog... show full transcript

Worked Solution & Example Answer:Nitrogen and hydrogen were mixed in a 1:3 mole ratio and left to reach equilibrium in a flask at a temperature of 550 K - AQA - A-Level Chemistry - Question 2 - 2018 - Paper 1

Step 1

1. Calculate the partial pressure of each gas in this equilibrium mixture.

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Answer

To find the partial pressures, we will use the total pressure and the mole fraction of NH3.

Given that:

  • Total pressure (P_total) = 150 kPa
  • Mole fraction of NH3 = 0.80

First, calculate the partial pressure of NH3:

PNH3=PtotalimesmoleextfractionNH3=150extkPaimes0.80=120extkPaP_{NH3} = P_{total} imes mole ext{ }fraction_{NH3} = 150 ext{ kPa} imes 0.80 = 120 ext{ kPa}

Next, the remaining fraction must be shared between N2 and H2. The mole fraction of N2 and H2 can be calculated as follows:

Mole fraction of NH3 = 0.80 Mole fraction of N2 + Mole fraction of H2 = 1 - 0.80 = 0.20

Assuming the mole ratio of N2 to H2 is 1:3, if x is the mole fraction of N2, then:

  • Mole fraction of N2 = x
  • Mole fraction of H2 = 3x

Thus, x+3x=0.20x + 3x = 0.20 4x=0.204x = 0.20 x=0.05x = 0.05

Therefore:

  • Mole fraction of N2 = 0.05
  • Mole fraction of H2 = 0.15

Now calculate the partial pressures:

Partial pressure of N2: PN2=PtotalimesmoleextfractionN2=150extkPaimes0.05=7.5extkPaP_{N2} = P_{total} imes mole ext{ }fraction_{N2} = 150 ext{ kPa} imes 0.05 = 7.5 ext{ kPa}

Partial pressure of H2: PH2=PtotalimesmoleextfractionH2=150extkPaimes0.15=22.5extkPaP_{H2} = P_{total} imes mole ext{ }fraction_{H2} = 150 ext{ kPa} imes 0.15 = 22.5 ext{ kPa}

Thus, the calculated values are:

  • Partial pressure of nitrogen: 7.5 kPa
  • Partial pressure of hydrogen: 22.5 kPa
  • Partial pressure of ammonia: 120 kPa

Step 2

2. Give an expression for the equilibrium constant (Kp) for this reaction.

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Answer

The expression for the equilibrium constant (Kp) for the reaction is:

Kp=(PNH3)2(PN2)(PH2)3K_p = \frac{{(P_{NH3})^2}}{{(P_{N2})(P_{H2})^3}}

Where:

  • PNH3P_{NH3} is the partial pressure of ammonia
  • PN2P_{N2} is the partial pressure of nitrogen
  • PH2P_{H2} is the partial pressure of hydrogen

Step 3

3. Calculate the value of the equilibrium constant (Kp) for this reaction and give its units.

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Answer

Using the values from Table 2:

  • PN2=1.20×102P_{N2} = 1.20 \times 10^2 kPa
  • PH2=1.50×102P_{H2} = 1.50 \times 10^2 kPa
  • PNH3=1.10×102P_{NH3} = 1.10 \times 10^2 kPa

Now substitute these values into the Kp expression:

Kp=(1.10×102)2(1.20×102)(1.50×102)3K_p = \frac{{(1.10 \times 10^2)^2}}{{(1.20 \times 10^2)(1.50 \times 10^2)^3}}

Calculating this gives:

  1. Find (1.10×102)2=1.21×104(1.10 \times 10^2)^2 = 1.21 \times 10^4 kPa²
  2. Find (1.50×102)3=3.375×106(1.50 \times 10^2)^3 = 3.375 \times 10^6 kPa³
  3. Now substitute:

Kp=1.21×104(1.20×102)×3.375×106K_p = \frac{1.21 \times 10^4}{(1.20 \times 10^2) \times 3.375 \times 10^6}

Calculate KpK_p: This yields the value (after simplifying)...

Units for Kp are kPa1^{-1} due to the difference in pressures in the numerator and denominator.

Step 4

4. State the effect, if any, of an increase in temperature on the value of Kp for this reaction. Justify your answer.

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Answer

Effect on Kp: Kp will decrease.

Justification: Since the reaction has a negative enthalpy change (-92 kJ mol⁻¹), it is exothermic. According to Le Chatelier's Principle, increasing the temperature would shift the equilibrium position to favor the endothermic direction (the reverse reaction in this case), thus decreasing the value of Kp.

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