Products or Reactants favored for K<1 vs K>1

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

babytomato

Full Member
7+ Year Member
Joined
Jun 12, 2016
Messages
153
Reaction score
44
I get how K=Products/reactants but why does K>1 favor products? I thought if K>1, there would be more products and so it would favor reactants (and vise versa).
 
K refers to the proportion of products to reactants at "equilibrium". If it's greater than 1, its just saying that at equilibrium there will be more products than reactants. When you're talking about "if there are more products, reactants are favoured" that is Le Chatelier's Principle, and is based on when the equilibrium is changed or altered (e.g. you add some product or reactant).
 
K refers to the proportion of products to reactants at "equilibrium". If it's greater than 1, its just saying that at equilibrium there will be more products than reactants. When you're talking about "if there are more products, reactants are favoured" that is Le Chatelier's Principle, and is based on when the equilibrium is changed or altered (e.g. you add some product or reactant).

Okay, I got it confused with Le Chatelier's. Thank you!
 
Top