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The Reaction Quotient definitions

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  • Reaction Quotient
    A calculated ratio of product to reactant concentrations used to assess if a system is at equilibrium.
  • Equilibrium Constant
    A fixed value representing the ratio of products to reactants at equilibrium for a given reaction.
  • Equilibrium
    A state where the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are equal, resulting in no net change in concentrations.
  • Forward Direction
    The process in which reactants are converted into products as a reaction shifts to reach equilibrium.
  • Reverse Direction
    The process in which products are converted back into reactants as a reaction shifts to reach equilibrium.
  • Products
    Substances formed as a result of a chemical reaction, appearing in the numerator of the reaction quotient.
  • Reactants
    Starting substances in a chemical reaction, appearing in the denominator of the reaction quotient.
  • Number Line
    A visual tool used to represent the relative values of Q and K and the direction of the reaction shift.
  • Shifting
    The process by which a reaction moves toward equilibrium, altering the amounts of reactants and products.
  • Balance
    A concept describing how an increase on one side of a reaction corresponds to a decrease on the other.
  • Expression
    A mathematical formula representing the ratio of product and reactant concentrations for Q or K.
  • Concentration
    The amount of a substance present in a given volume, used to calculate Q and K.
  • Solids
    A phase of matter excluded from the calculation of Q and K due to constant concentration.
  • Liquids
    A phase of matter ignored in Q and K calculations because their concentration remains unchanged.
  • Direction
    The way in which a reaction proceeds—either toward products or reactants—to achieve equilibrium.