Relation Between Kp And Kc - A Complete Guide

Relation Between Kp And Kc - A Complete Guide

Team Careers360Updated on 02 Jul 2025, 04:48 PM IST

kp and kc are equilibrium constants in ideal gas mixture. KP is the equilibrium constant taken with respect to atmospheric pressure and kc is the equilibrium constant used to express the concentration of gaseous mixture in terms of molarity.

Relation Between Kp And Kc - A Complete Guide
Relation Between Kp And Kc

Let us consider an equilibrium state in a gaseous mixture of reactants A , B and products C ,D .

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The equation of the reaction be ,

aA + bB⇌cC+dD

In the above equation a, b, c and d are the mole numbers for A, B, C, and D respectively.

Therefore, the kc can be written as

k_c=\frac{[c]^d[D]^d}{[A]^a[B^b]}

So, the kp can be written as

kp=\frac{[p_c]^c[p_o]^d}{[p_A]^a [p_B]^b}

Here , pA,pB,pC and pD are the partial pressure of the gas A,B,C and D respectively.

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Example 1 :

2A+3B⇌4C+5D

k_c=\frac{[C]^4[D]^5}{[A]^2[B]^3}

Example 2 :

2A+3B⇌4C+5D

k_p=\frac{[P_c]^4[p_D]^5}{[P_A]^2[P_B]^3}

Here , pA,pB,pC and pD are the partial pressure of the gas A,B,C and D respectively.

From the equation of ideal gas ;

pV=nRT

Where , p = pressure ; V = volume ; n = no of moles ; R = gas constant ; T = temperature.

How to find kp?

Derive the relation between kpand kc/Write kp kc relation/write the relation between kp and kc

Therefore,
pV=nRT

Or, p=\frac{n}{V}RT.....(1)

From the above equation we can say;

pA=[A]RT

pB=[B]RT

pC=[C]RT

pD=[D]RT

So, the

k_p=\frac{[p_c]^c[p_D]^d}{[p_A]^a[p_B]^b}.......(2)

k_c=\frac{[c]^c[D]^d}{[A]^a[B]^b}.......(3)

Substituting the values of, pA,pB,pC and pD in the equation (2)

k_p=\frac{[c]^c [RT]^c[D]^d [RT]^d}{ [A]^a [RT]^a[B]^b[RT]^b}

k_p=\frac{[c]^c [D]^d[RT]^{(c+d)}} { [A]^a [B]^b[RT]^{(a+b)}}

k_p=\frac{[c]^c [D]^d[RT]^{(c+d){(a+b)})}} { [A]^a [B]^b

k_p=\frac{[c]^c[D]^d}{[A]^a[B]^b}[RT]^{\Delta n}.........(4)

Here, (c+d) is the sum of the mole number of the products and (a+b) is the sum of the mole number of the reactants.

So, ∆n is the difference between the sum of the mole number of the products and the sum of the mole number of the reactants.

∆n=(c+d)-(a+b)

Substituting the value of equation (3) in equation (4):

Then the the relation between kp and kc is,

kp=kc[RT]∆n

The above equation is the relation between kp and kc.

Special case, ∆n=0 then kp=kc ; it happens when there is no change in the mole numbers between the sum of the mole number of the products and the sum of the mole number of the reactants.

If , kp=kc[RT]∆n then kc=kp[RT]-∆n is the relation between kc and kp.

These are included in the relation between kp and kc pdf/relation between kp and kc class 11th chemistry.

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NCERT Physics Notes:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How do Kp and Kc relate to the concept of equilibrium position?
A:
The values of Kp and Kc indicate the position of equilibrium. A large K means the equilibrium lies far to the product side, while a small K means it lies toward the reactant side. This provides information about the relative amounts of products and reactants at equilibrium.
Q: Can Kp and Kc be used to predict the spontaneity of a reaction?
A:
Yes, the magnitude of Kp or Kc is related to the spontaneity of a reaction. A large K (K >> 1) indicates a spontaneous forward reaction, while a small K (K << 1) indicates the reverse reaction is spontaneous. This is directly related to the sign of ΔG°.
Q: How do you handle Kp and Kc for reactions involving ions in solution?
A:
For reactions involving ions in solution, Kc is typically used. The concentrations of ions are used in the equilibrium constant expression. For very dilute solutions, activity coefficients might be needed to account for ion-ion interactions.
Q: What's the significance of the standard enthalpy and entropy changes in relation to Kp and Kc?
A:
The standard enthalpy (ΔH°) and entropy (ΔS°) changes are related to Kp and Kc through the Gibbs free energy change: ΔG° = ΔH° - TΔS° = -RT ln(K). This relationship allows prediction of equilibrium constants from thermodynamic data.
Q: How do Kp and Kc relate to the concept of reaction quotient Q?
A:
The reaction quotient Q has the same form as Kp or Kc but uses non-equilibrium concentrations or pressures. At equilibrium, Q equals K. Comparing Q to K allows prediction of the direction in which a reaction will proceed to reach equilibrium.
Q: What's the importance of dimensional analysis in Kp and Kc calculations?
A:
Dimensional analysis is crucial in Kp and Kc calculations to ensure consistency in units. While these constants are often treated as dimensionless, keeping track of units helps prevent errors, especially when converting between Kp and Kc.
Q: Can Kp and Kc be used to predict the direction of a reaction?
A:
Yes, by comparing the reaction quotient (Q) to K (either Kp or Kc). If Q < K, the reaction will proceed forward. If Q > K, it will proceed backward. If Q = K, the system is at equilibrium.
Q: How do Kp and Kc relate to the concept of chemical potential?
A:
Chemical potential (μ) is related to the partial pressure or concentration of a species. The equilibrium constants Kp and Kc represent the balance of chemical potentials at equilibrium, where the total Gibbs free energy is minimized.
Q: What's the significance of the standard state in Kp and Kc calculations?
A:
The standard state (usually 1 atm for gases, 1 M for solutions) provides a reference point for calculations. Kp and Kc values are often reported for standard conditions, allowing for consistent comparisons between different reactions.
Q: How do you handle Kp and Kc for coupled reactions?
A:
For coupled reactions, the overall Kp or Kc is the product of the individual equilibrium constants. This is because the logarithm of K is additive for coupled reactions, reflecting the additive nature of Gibbs free energy changes.