Chemistry equilibrium concentration

Question

Kc= 1.25 x10^-7

2CIF «»(equilibrium) Cl2 + F2

What are the equilibrium concentrations of all species present?

(I know that the quadratic function won’t be used because the kp is very very small so my x will be small. I have to assume there is zero initial concentrations for each molecule. I’m trying to find which direction does it go, right or left?) I’m not sure if 0 is larger than 1.25x10^-7, to find the direction the the reaction will go.

Answer 1

Since the Kc is less than 1, the equilibrium will lie largely to the LEFT (favoring the reactants). But we don't have any initial or equilibrium concentrations given, so we can't really solve the problem numerically. In such a problem we are usually provided with the initial concentration of the reactant. Are you sure that value wasn't provided? And of course, zero is less than Kc, but that doesn't help solve the problem. We need some initial or equilibrium concentration.