ABSTRACT
Whether a reaction is reactant favored or product favored and the amount of each chemical present at the end of a reaction are defined as its equilibrium state. Gibbs energy (∆r G°) considers the energetics of a reaction, but the equilibrium constant (K) is a quantifiable metric for the ratio of the amount concentration of products to reactants at equilibrium. Together, the Gibbs energy of a reaction provides a means of determining the amount of chemicals at equilibrium, and the equilibrium constant provides a metric for determining the energetics of a reaction. In this chapter, readers are introduced to the concept of equilibrium and the use of the equilibrium constant to find the amount of reactants and products at equilibrium. In addition, an equilibrium can be perturbed by changing the amount of chemicals, the pressure, the volume, and/or the temperature to shift the equilibrium one way or another and maximize the yield of a particular product.
