Reaction Quotient (Q)

Definition

The reaction quotient, Q, measures the relative amounts of products and reactants present during a reaction at any given time. Q is used to determine which direction a reaction will shift to reach equilibrium.

Related terms

Le Chatelier's Principle: This principle states that if stress is applied to a system at equilibrium, the system will adjust in order to restore equilibrium.

Equilibrium Constant (Keq):

This is the ratio of concentrations of products and reactants at equilibrium. It's like the "perfect recipe" for our reaction.

Gibbs Free Energy (∆G): This term tells us whether a reaction can occur spontaneously. If ∆G is negative, the reaction can happen on its own without any added energy!