Do the following reactions favor reactants or products at equilibrium? Give relative concentrations at equilibrium.Sucrose(aq) + H2O(l) ⇌ Glucose(aq) + Fructose(aq) K = 1.4 x 10^5

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the equilibrium constant (K) for the reaction, which is given as K = 1.4 \times 10^5.
2. Understand that the equilibrium constant (K) indicates the ratio of the concentrations of products to reactants at equilibrium.
3. Since K is much greater than 1, this suggests that the products are favored at equilibrium.
4. At equilibrium, the concentration of products (Glucose and Fructose) will be much higher than the concentration of reactants (Sucrose and H2O).
5. Conclude that the reaction favors the formation of products at equilibrium, resulting in higher concentrations of Glucose and Fructose compared to Sucrose.

Key Concepts

Chemical Equilibrium

Chemical equilibrium occurs when the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are equal, resulting in constant concentrations of reactants and products. At this point, the system is in a dynamic state where the concentrations of all species remain unchanged over time, even though reactions continue to occur. Understanding this concept is crucial for analyzing the favorability of reactants or products in a given reaction.

Equilibrium Constant (K)

The equilibrium constant (K) quantifies the ratio of the concentrations of products to reactants at equilibrium, raised to the power of their stoichiometric coefficients. A large K value, such as 1.4 x 10^5 in this case, indicates that at equilibrium, the concentration of products is significantly higher than that of reactants, suggesting that the reaction favors the formation of products.

Relative Concentrations

Relative concentrations refer to the proportions of reactants and products present at equilibrium. In the context of the given reaction, understanding how to calculate these concentrations based on the equilibrium constant allows for predictions about the extent of the reaction. This involves using the value of K to determine how much more abundant the products are compared to the reactants at equilibrium.