ExamGOAL
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54
Subjective

Write a relation between $\Delta \mathrm{G}$ and Q and define the meaning of each term and answer the following.

(a) Why a reaction proceeds forward when $Q

(b) Explain the effect of increase in pressure in terms of reaction quotient Q.

For the reaction, $\mathrm{CO}(\mathrm{g})+3 \mathrm{H}_2(\mathrm{~g}) \rightleftharpoons \mathrm{CH}_4(\mathrm{~g})+\mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{O}(\mathrm{g})$

Explanation

The relation between $$\Delta G$$ and Q is

$$\begin{aligned} \Delta G & =\Delta G^{\ominus}+R T \ln Q \\ \Delta G & =\text { change in free energy as the reaction proceeds. } \\ \Delta G^{\ominus} & =\text { standard free energy } \\ Q & =\text { reaction quotient } \\ R & =\text { gas constant } \\ T & =\text { absolute temperature in } K \end{aligned}$$

$$\begin{aligned} \text{Since,}\quad \Delta G^{\ominus} & =-R T \ln K \\ \therefore\quad \Delta G & =-R T \ln K+R T \ln Q \\ \Delta G & =R T \ln \frac{Q}{K} \end{aligned}$$

If $Q

If $Q=K, \Delta G=0$ reaction is in equilibrium and there is no net reaction.

(b) $\begin{aligned} \mathrm{CO}(\mathrm{g})+3 \mathrm{H}_2(\mathrm{~g}) & \rightleftharpoons \mathrm{CH}_4(\mathrm{~g})+\mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{O}(\mathrm{g}) \\ K_{\mathrm{c}} & =\frac{\left[\mathrm{CH}_4\right]\left[\mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{O}\right]}{[\mathrm{CO}]\left[\mathrm{H}_2\right]^3}\end{aligned}$

On increasing pressure, volume decreases. If we doubled the pressure, volume will be halved but the molar concentrations will be doubled. Then,

$Q_{\mathrm{C}}=\frac{2\left[\mathrm{CH}_4\right] \cdot 2\left[\mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{O}\right]}{2[\mathrm{CO}]\left\{2\left[\mathrm{H}_2\right]\right\}^3}=\frac{1}{4} \frac{\left[\mathrm{CH}_4\right]\left[\mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{O}\right]}{[\mathrm{CO}]\left[\mathrm{H}_2\right]^3}=\frac{1}{4} K_c$

Therefore, $Q_c$ is less than $K_c$, so $Q_c$ will tend to increase to re-establish equilibrium and the reaction will go in forward direction.