Example:

Find Keq of this reaction.

Fe3+(aq) + SCN-(aq) <===> FeSCN2+(aq)

from known initial concentrations of Fe3+(aq) and SCN-(aq), and a spectrophotometric
determination of the concentration of FeSCN2+(aq) at equilibrium. Calculate Keq for this
reaction from the following ficticious data. Enter your answer with 3 sig figs.


(Note: this data is ficticious and is only designed to help you understand the calculations
required in this experiment).

Initial Conditions: Mix 4.05 ml of 2.10x10-3 M Fe(NO3)3(aq) solution with 4.86 ml of 2.50x10-
3 M KSCN(aq) solution in a graduated cylinder. Add water so the total volume of the solution
is 10.00 ml.

Equilibrium Conditions: The equilibrium concentration of FeSCN2+(aq) is found to be
1.61x10-4 M from spectrophotometry. (Hint: you will need to calculate the equilibrium
concentration of Fe3+(aq) and SCN-(aq).)

Answer:

Initial moles of Fe = 4.05 x 0.0021 = 0.0085 mmol

Initial moles of SCN = 4.86 x 0.0025 = 0.0122 mmol

Equilibrium moles of FeSCN = 10 x 0.000161 = 0.0016 mmol

Because all mole ratios are 1-to-1, it means that 0.0016 mmol of Fe and 0.0016 mmol of SCN
reacted in the experiment.

Equilibrium moles of Fe = 0.0085 - 0.0016 = 0.0069 mmol

Equilibrium moles SCN = 0.0122 - 0.0016 = 0.0106 mmol

Concentration of all species at equilibrium:
Fe = 0.0069 mmol / 10 mL = 0.00069 M
SCN = 0.0106 mmol / 10 mL = 0.00106 M
FeSCN = 0.0016 mmol / 10 mL = 0.00016 M

K = (0.00016) / (0.00069 x 0.00106) = 219