Geometrical Description of Chemical Equilibrium and Le Chatelier's Principle: Two-Component Systems

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Geometrical Description of Chemical Equilibrium and Le Chatelier's Principle: Two-Component Systems
Language: English
Authors: Novak, Igor (ORCID 0000-0002-3413-2605)
Source: Journal of Chemical Education. Jan 2018 95(1):84-87.
Availability: Division of Chemical Education, Inc and ACS Publications Division of the American Chemical Society. 1155 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 800-227-5558; Tel: 202-872-4600; e-mail: eic@jce.acs.org; Web site: http://pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 4
Publication Date: 2018
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Science Instruction, Scientific Concepts, College Science, Undergraduate Study, Chemistry, Concept Formation, Thermodynamics, Equations (Mathematics), Graphs, Foreign Countries
Geographic Terms: Australia
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.7b00665
ISSN: 0021-9584
Abstract: Chemical equilibrium is one of the most important concepts in chemistry. The changes in properties of the chemical system at equilibrium induced by variations in pressure, volume, temperature, and concentration are always included in classroom teaching and discussions. This work introduces a novel, geometrical approach to understanding the chemical system at equilibrium with the example of a simple two-component system and shows how the equilibrium changes under the influence of external perturbations. The paper discusses how thermodynamic factors (contained in the equilibrium constant K) and the conservation of mass principle govern the equilibrium state. The equilibrium and its changes are described using the geometrical representation in concentration space. The goal of this work is to help students better understand the basis behind the well-known Le Chatelier's principle and equilibrium in general.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2018
Accession Number: EJ1167010
Database: ERIC
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