Sulfur dioxide, oxygen, and sulfur trioxide are present in a 10.0L constant-volume catalytic reactor at 700K according to the equilibrium
2SO2(g)+O2(g)⇌2SO3(g)
At this temperature the equilibrium constant expressed in terms of concentration is Kc=4.3×105. A process engineer introduces 2.50molSO2, 0.800molO2, and 3.00molSO3 into the reactor and immediately starts monitoring the composition.
(a) Calculate the initial molar concentrations of all three species in the reactor prior to any shift toward equilibrium.
(b) Compute the numerical value of the reaction quotient, Qc, for the initial mixture.
(c) Predict the direction in which the net reaction will proceed as the system approaches equilibrium, and justify your prediction with reference to Qc and Kc.
(d) The engineer wishes to maximize the production rate of SO3 without altering temperature or pressure. Propose ONE specific compositional adjustment that could be made to the feed gases to achieve this goal, and explain—using the concepts assessed in parts (a)–(c)—why your proposal would be effective.
(e) Quantitatively or qualitatively discuss how the large numerical difference between Qc and Kc you obtained in part (b) influences the extent to which the composition will change before equilibrium is attained.