Unit 6
Equilibrium
Objective: To become familiar with the basic principles of an equilibrium
reaction
Equilibrium Packet
Equilibrium Lab
When opposing forces or issues are balanced, a system is said to be in
equilibrium. Equilibrium in chemical reactions is dynamic because the forward
and reverse reactions are occurring continuously and simultaneously at the same
rates. Placing a stress on any equilibrium system, whether it is chemical,
biological, societal, environmental, or personal, causes the equilibrium position to
change. Just like people, chemicals tend to move away from stressful situations
and will either proceed with a forward or reverse chemical reaction in order to
reduce their overall stress. Le Chatelier’s Principle allows us to predict the
results that follow from changing the conditions of a system at chemical
equilibrium. This allows scientists to develop techniques to control chemical
reactions in natural and industrial settings in order to obtain desired products.
In this unit, make sure that you can say with confidence…
I can…
1. Describe equilibrium.
2. Identify the stresses one can place on a system in equilibrium.
3. Use Le Chatelier’s principle to predict which direction an equilibrium
system will shift when stresses are applied to the system.