Refreshing General Chemistry Why Review General Chemistry? Equilibrium
Equilibrium
Estimated reading time: 1 min
In this chapter
In this section
Topics
- Reversible reactions
- Le Châtelier’s principle
- Equilibrium constants
What to Focus On
The most important idea here is conceptual: most reactions reach a balance rather than going completely to products, and the position of that balance is predictable. Le Châtelier’s principle at a qualitative level — adding reactants, removing products, or changing temperature shifts the equilibrium in a predictable direction — is more useful than working through calculations.
The connection to pKa is worth noting: pKa is simply −log(Ka), and reactions favor formation of the weaker acid. This rule is one of the most practical tools in organic chemistry.
Why It Matters
Chemical reactions are governed by energetics and equilibrium.
Understanding equilibrium makes many organic reactions easier to interpret.
Recommended Resources
Reading
OpenStax Chemistry 2e
Videos
Gentle Exercises
Explain:
- Why reactions do not always proceed completely to products.
- How equilibrium differs from reaction speed.