Year 11 - Science
Chemical equilibrium
Industrial chemistry
Study Hub
Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit covers corrosion, prevention methods, and properties of alloys, ceramics, polymers, and metals. It explores industrial processes like the Haber process, fertiliser production, reaction rates, yields, atom economy, and the trade-offs involving conditions and equilibrium.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain the concept of chemical equilibrium and the characteristics of a system in which equilibrium is established.
Key Notes
- At equilibrium, both reactants and products are formed at the same rate.
- Amounts of reactants and products remain constant at equilibrium.
- Equilibrium can only occur in a closed system.
Vocabulary To Learn
- dynamic equilibrium: occurs in a closed system when the forward and backward reactions of a reversible chemical reaction occur at the same rate; and the concentrations of reactants and products remain constant.
- reaction rate: is the speed with which a chemical reaction takes place, measured by the amount of a reactant used or amount of product formed in a given time.
- closed system: is one in which matter cannot enter or leave the observed environment, allowing only energy transfer between the system and its surrounding environment.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Equilibrium can occur in an open system; no reactions occur at equilibrium; amounts of reactants and products are equal at equilibrium.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
At equilibrium, both reactants and products are formed at the same rate. Amounts of reactants and products remain constant at equilibrium.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'dynamic equilibrium'
occurs in a closed system when the forward and backward reactions of a reversible chemical reaction occur at the same rate; and the concentrations of reactants and products remain constant. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: Equilibrium can occur in an open system; no reactions occur at equilibrium; amounts of reactants and products are equal at equilibrium. Correction: Equilibrium requires a closed system; in an open system, matter exchange disrupts balance. At equilibrium, reactions still occur but at equal rates, leading to constant amounts, not necessarily equal amounts of reactants and products.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Ammonia: NPK fertiliser production and other applications Study Guide
- Comparing materials and their properties Study Guide
- Corrosion and its prevention Study Guide
- Corrosion and its prevention: including half equations Study Guide
- Equilibrium: balance between rate, safety, environment and economics Study Guide
- Factors affecting equilibrium Study Guide
- Industrial equilibria: Contact Process Study Guide
- Industrial equilibria: Haber Process Study Guide
- Introduction to reversible chemical reactions Study Guide
- Making ammonia Study Guide
- NPK fertilisers, agriculture and other applications Study Guide
- Percentage yield and atom economy Study Guide
- Percentage yield and atom economy (RAM 1 d.p.) Study Guide
- Transition metals Study Guide
- Transition metals: physical and chemical properties Study Guide
- Transition metals: properties and uses Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 11 Science guide library.