Given below are two statements: Statement I : A catalyst cannot alter the equilibrium constant (Kc) of the reaction, temperature remaining constant. Statement II : A homogenous catalyst can change the equilibrium composition of a system, temperature remaining constant. In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Solution & Explanation

Related Formula
Kc = (kf)/(kb)

where kf and kb are forward and backward rate constants.

Core Logic

Statement I is true: A catalyst increases both forward (kf) and backward (kb) rate constants to the same extent by lowering the activation energy barrier. Therefore, Kc = kf / kb remains unchanged at constant temperature.

Statement II is false: A catalyst (whether homogeneous or heterogeneous) helps the reaction attain equilibrium faster but cannot alter the equilibrium composition or the position of equilibrium.

Step 1: Final Conclusion

Statement I is true but Statement II is false.

Pattern Recognition

Catalyst effect = Speeds up reaching equilibrium. Catalyst NEVER changes: Equilibrium Constant (Kc) or Equilibrium Concentrations/Composition.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Chemistry: Chemical Equilibrium

Reference Study Guides

More Chemical Equilibrium Previous-Year Questions — Page 6

Q32 jee_main_2025_24_jan_morning Solubility Product Constant
Ksp for Cr(OH)₃ is 1.6×10⁻³⁰. What is the molar solubility of this salt in water ?
  • A. [4] 1.6×10⁻³⁰27
  • B. 1.8×10⁻³⁰27
  • C. [5]1.8×10⁻³⁰
  • D. [2]1.6×10⁻³⁰

Solution

Related Formula
Kₛₚ = x^x y^y sx+y
Core Logic

The dissolution equilibrium for chromium hydroxide is written as:

Cr(OH)3(s) leftharpoons Cr³⁺(aq) + 3OH⁻(aq)

If the molar solubility is denoted by s:

[Cr³⁺] = s and [OH⁻] = 3s

Substituting values into the expressions:

Kₛₚ = (s) · (3s)³ = 27s⁴

Given Kₛₚ = 1.6 × 10⁻³⁰:

27s⁴ = 1.6 × 10⁻³⁰ s = ( 1.6 × 10⁻³⁰27 )1/4
Pattern Recognition

For a binary-quaternary salt of type AB₃, the relationship simplifies strictly to Kₛₚ = 27s⁴.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Chemistry: Equilibrium

Q30 jee_main_2025_28_jan_evening Solubility Product
Arrange the following in increasing order of solubility product: Ca(OH)₂, AgBr, PbS, HgS
  • A. PbS < HgS < Ca(OH)₂ < AgBr
  • B. HgS < PbS < AgBr < Ca(OH)₂
  • C. Ca(OH)₂ < AgBr < HgS < PbS
  • D. HgS < AgBr < PbS < Ca(OH)₂

Solution

Related Formula

The solubility product constant (Kₛₚ) reflects the equilibrium position of a sparingly soluble salt in water.

Core Logic

Based on standard literature Kₛₚ values at 298 K:

  • HgS: ≈ 4 × 10⁻⁵³ (extremely insoluble, Group IIB cation analysis)
  • PbS: ≈ 8 × 10⁻²⁸ (highly insoluble, Group IIA cation analysis)
  • AgBr: ≈ 5 × 10⁻¹³ (sparingly soluble halide salt)
  • Ca(OH)₂: ≈ 5.5 × 10⁻⁶ (moderately soluble base)
Step 1: Arrangement

Comparing these Kₛₚ orders:

4 × 10⁻⁵³ < 8 × 10⁻²⁸ < 5 × 10⁻¹³ < 5.5 × 10⁻⁶

Hence, the correct increasing sequence is: HgS < PbS < AgBr < Ca(OH)₂.

Pattern Recognition

Sulphides of heavy transition metals like Hg²⁺ and Pb²⁺ have exceptionally small Kₛₚ values compared to halides or hydroxides. Among sulphides, HgS is famously known to have one of the lowest solubility products found in inorganic qualitative analysis.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Chemistry: Equilibrium

Q jee_main_2025_29_jan_morning Degree of Dissociation and Equilibrium Constant
At temperature T, compound AB2(g) dissociates as: AB2(g) leftharpoons AB(g) + (1)/(2)B2(g) having a degree of dissociation x (x ll 1). The correct expression for x in terms of Kₚ and total pressure p is: x = ((2Kₚ²)/(p))1/3
  • A. [3] 2Kₚp
  • B. [4] 2Kₚp
  • C. [3] 2Kₚ²p
  • D. Kₚ

Solution

Related Formula
Kₚ = pAB · pB₂1/2pAB₂
Core Logic

Consider the equilibrium reaction setup:

StateAB2(g)leftharpoonsAB(g)+(1)/(2)B2(g)
Initial moles:100
Equilibrium moles:1 - xx(x)/(2)

Total equilibrium moles:

ntotal = 1 - x + x + (x)/(2) = 1 + (x)/(2)

Since x ll 1, total moles ntotal ≈ 1 and (1 - x) ≈ 1.

Partial pressures:

pAB₂ ≈ p pAB ≈ x p pB₂ ≈ (x)/(2) p

Substituting into Kₚ:

Kₚ = (x p) · ((x p)/(2))1/2p = x · ((x p)/(2))1/2 = x3/2 p1/2√(2)

Squaring both sides and solving for x:

Kₚ² = (x³ p)/(2) x³ = (2Kₚ²)/(p) x = 3√((2Kₚ²)/(p))
Pattern Recognition

For Δ ng = 0.5 involving degree of dissociation x ll 1, tracking total pressure approximations ensures an immediate analytical solution without full polynomial expansion.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Chemistry: Chemical Equilibrium

Q90 jee_main_2024_01_february_morning Hydrolysis of Salts
Kₐ for CH₃COOH is 1.8 × 10⁻⁵ and Kb for NH₄OH is 1.8 × 10⁻⁵. The pH of ammonium acetate solution will be
Numerical Answer. Answer: 7 to 7

Solution

Related Formula

For a salt of weak acid and weak base (like ammonium acetate):

pH = (1)/(2) (pKw + pKₐ - pKb)
Core Logic

Ammonium acetate (CH₃COONH₄) is a salt formed from a weak acid (CH₃COOH) and a weak base (NH₄OH). Given: Kₐ = 1.8 × 10⁻⁵ Kb = 1.8 × 10⁻⁵

Since Kₐ = Kb, taking the negative logarithm gives pKₐ = pKb.

Step 1: Calculate pH
pH = pKw + pKₐ - pKb2

Substitute pKₐ = pKb:

pH = pKw2

At standard temperature (298 K), pKw = 14.

pH = (14)/(2) = 7
Pattern Recognition

If Kₐ = Kb for a weak acid-weak base salt, the hydrolysis of cation and anion perfectly balance out, making the resulting solution exactly neutral (pH = 7) regardless of the concentration of the salt.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Chemistry: Equilibrium

Q jee_main_2024_29_january_evening Equilibrium Constant Calculation
The following concentrations were observed at 500 K for the formation of NH₃ from N₂ and H₂. At equilibrium: [N₂] = 2 × 10⁻² M, [H₂] = 3 × 10⁻² M, and [NH₃] = 1.5 × 10⁻² M. Equilibrium constant for the reaction is ________.
Numerical Answer. Answer: 417 to 417

Solution

Related Formula
N₂(g) + 3H₂(g) leftharpoons 2NH₃(g) Kc = [NH₃]²[N₂][H₂]³
Core Logic

Substituting the given equilibrium concentrations into the equilibrium constant expression:

Kc = (1.5 × 10⁻²)²(2 × 10⁻²) × (3 × 10⁻²)³

Evaluating the values step-by-step:

Kc = 2.25 × 10⁻⁴(2 × 10⁻²) × (27 × 10⁻⁶)
Step 1: Final Arithmetic Integration
Kc = 2.25 × 10⁻⁴54 × 10⁻⁸ = (2.25)/(54) × 10⁴ = 0.041666 × 10⁴ ≈ 416.67

Rounding to the nearest integer yields 417.

Pattern Recognition

Pay close attention to the cubic exponent in the denominator derived from the hydrogen stoichiometric coefficient (3). Small calculation errors here can significantly alter the result.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Chemistry: Chemical Equilibrium

More Chemical Equilibrium Questions — jee_main_2025_03_april_morning

Practice all Chemical Equilibrium previous-year questions →

Rankbit System
JEE Physics: Waves (+15.5%) | Electrostatics: Concentric Shells (-29.7%) | Modern Physics: Photoelectric Clones (+34.2%) | Mathematics: Definite Integrals (+18.1%) | Chemistry: Coordination Splitting (-11.4%) | JEE Physics: Waves (+15.5%) | Electrostatics: Concentric Shells (-29.7%) | Modern Physics: Photoelectric Clones (+34.2%) | Mathematics: Definite Integrals (+18.1%) | Chemistry: Coordination Splitting (-11.4%)