Chemical Equilibria in Biology and Environment

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Questions and Answers

What occurs when a liquid evaporates in a closed container?

  • Molecules with lower kinetic energy escape into the vapour phase.
  • Only light molecules leave the liquid phase.
  • The system enters a static equilibrium with no activity at the surface.
  • The number of liquid molecules leaving equals the number returning from the vapour. (correct)

Which of the following statements correctly describes the equilibrium state of a system?

  • The rate of evaporation is greater than the rate of condensation.
  • Equilibrium indicates that no molecules are moving between phases.
  • The processes of evaporation and condensation occur at different rates.
  • Both evaporation and condensation processes are happening simultaneously. (correct)

What is indicated by the double half arrows in the chemical equation H2O (l) ↔ H2O (vap)?

  • The equilibrium state is static with no changes.
  • Both evaporation and condensation are occurring simultaneously. (correct)
  • Liquid water completely converts into vapour.
  • Only the evaporation process is occurring.

Why does the presence of CO molecules in hemoglobin result in toxicity?

<p>CO interferes with oxygen transport. (B), CO has a higher affinity than O2 for hemoglobin. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an equilibrium mixture?

<p>A mixture of reactants and products in a system at equilibrium. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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Study Notes

Importance of Chemical Equilibria

  • Chemical equilibria are essential in various biological and environmental processes.
  • Hemoglobin interacts with O2 to facilitate its transport from lungs to muscles.
  • The binding of CO to hemoglobin highlights the toxicity of carbon monoxide.

Evaporation and Equilibrium

  • Evaporation occurs when liquid molecules with higher kinetic energy escape into the vapor phase.
  • A dynamic equilibrium is established when the number of liquid molecules evaporating matches those condensing back.
  • The system reaches a constant vapor pressure at equilibrium due to this balance.

Characteristics of Equilibrium

  • Equilibrium is characterized by continuous, dynamic activity at the interface of liquid and vapor.
  • At equilibrium, rates of evaporation and condensation are equal, indicating no net change in state.
  • This relationship can be represented as: H2O (l) ↔ H2O (vap), illustrating the dual direction of processes.

Equilibrium Mixture

  • The combination of reactants and products at equilibrium is termed an equilibrium mixture.
  • The equilibrium state is signified by the presence of both liquid and vapor phases co-existing without a change in quantity over time.

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