At 298\,K, the equilibrium between carbon monoxide and chlorine monoxide is represented as
CO(g) + Cl₂(g) ⇌ COCl₂(g)
A closed system is prepared containing measurable amounts of each species at 298\,K.
(a) Write the symbolic expression for the reaction quotient Qc for the reaction as written above.
(b) Suppose the chemist writes the process in the opposite direction. Derive the mathematical relationship between the new reaction quotient Qc,rev for the reversed reaction and the Qc you wrote in part (a). Express Qc,rev entirely in terms of Qc. Provide a verbal justification for the relationship you obtain.
(c) Instead, the chemist multiplies every stoichiometric coefficient in the original equation by 2. Derive the relationship between the resulting reaction quotient Qc,scaled and the original Qc from part (a). Explain your reasoning.
(d) Using your results from parts (b) and (c), describe how comparing each transformed Q to the appropriately transformed equilibrium constant K allows one to predict the spontaneous direction of change for the system under each new written form of the reaction.