Chemical Thermodynamics

Chapter 11

Chemical Equilibrium

11.a.  The Law of Mass Action

Chemical reactions are reversible in nature i.e. the reaction can proceed simultaneously in the forward and reverse directions. In such case, the sign is used to indicate that the reaction is reversible e.g.,

Chemical reactions are affected by changes in temperature, pressure and concentration. By investigating the effect of mass (concentration) on the course of chemical reactions, Guldberg and Waage, in 1867, proposed the law of mass action as ‘at constant temperature the rate or velocity ...