where g–i* (T) represents the Gibbs function of component iat 1 atm pres-
sure and temperature T, and Pirepresents the partial pressure of component
iin atmospheres. Substituting the Gibbs function expression for each com-
ponent into Eq. 16–9, we obtain
For convenience, we define the standard-state Gibbs function changeas
(16–11)
Substituting, we get
(16–12)
Now we define the equilibrium constantKPfor the chemical equilibrium
of ideal-gas mixtures as
(16–13)
Substituting into Eq. 16–12 and rearranging, we obtain
(16–14)
Therefore, the equilibrium constant KPof an ideal-gas mixture at a specified
temperature can be determined from a knowledge of the standard-state
Gibbs function change at the same temperature. The KPvalues for several
reactions are given in Table A–28.
Once the equilibrium constant is available, it can be used to determine the
equilibrium composition of reacting ideal-gas mixtures. This is accom-
plished by expressing the partial pressures of the components in terms of
their mole fractions:
where Pis the total pressure and Ntotalis the total number of moles present
in the reaction chamber, including any inert gases.Replacing the partial
pressures in Eq. 16–13 by the above relation and rearranging, we obtain
(Fig. 16–7)
(16–15)
where
Equation 16–15 is written for a reaction involving two reactants and two
products, but it can be extended to reactions involving any number of reac-
tants and products.
¢nnCnDnAnB
KP
NCnCNDnD
NAnANBnB
a
P
Ntotal
b
¢n
Piyi P
Ni
Ntotal
P
KPe¢G*^1 T2>RuT
KP
PCnCPDnD
PAnAPBnB
¢G* 1 T 2 RuT 1 nC ln PCnD ln PDnA ln PAnB ln PB 2 RuT ln
PCnCPDnD
PAnAPBnB
¢G* 1 T 2 nCgC* 1 T 2 nDg*D 1 T 2 nAg*A 1 T 2 nBgB* 1 T 2
nA 3 g*A 1 T 2 RuT ln PA 4 nB 3 gB* 1 T 2 RuT ln PB 4 0
nC 3 g*C 1 T 2 RuT ln PC 4 nD 3 gD* 1 T 2 RuT ln PD 4
Chapter 16 | 797
(1) In terms of partial pressures
KP =
PC CDPD
PA ABPB
(3) In terms of the equilibrium
composition
KP =
NC ND
N (
A NB
A B Ntotal (
P ∆
(2) In terms of ∆G*(T)
KP= e–∆G*(T)/R T
C D
u
nn
nn
nn
nn
n
FIGURE 16–7
Three equivalent KPrelations for
reacting ideal-gas mixtures.
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