Equilibrium Expressions - Kp, Ka, Kb, Ksp, and Keq

Blood Vessels Connect Oxygen and Hemoglobin

Perhaps one of the most important reversible reactions takes place within your body. As you breathe in oxygen, the oxygen connects with a protein called hemoglobin in the blood vessels contained in your lungs. Then, the oxygen is transported throughout your body. In organs, the oxygen is detached from the hemoglobin and used in the cells of the organs. The attachment of oxygen and hemoglobin is reversible reaction.

Many chemical reactions are reversible, meaning that both a forward and reverse reaction can occur. These reactions will reach dynamic equilibrium when left at conditions of constant temperature, pressure, and concentration. In many cases, the forward reaction is much more predominant, so the products are overwhelmingly present when the reaction occurs. This does not mean that the reaction will not reach equilibrium. Equilibrium is not established when the amount of reactants and products are equal; instead, it occurs when the rate of production of the reactants is equal to the rate of the production of the products.

Essential Questions

• What is the difference between dynamic and static equilibrium?
• How is the equilibrium expression written and the equilibrium constant calculated?