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9701 AS Chemistry/ Topic 7 Equilibria/ 6 interactive simulations/ drag to rotate 3D scenes

Equilibria, acids and bases, made interactive

Six simulations covering Topic 7: dynamic equilibrium particle by particle, Le Chatelier and the Haber process with yields from the real equilibrium constant, Kc from an ICE table, Kp and the dissociation of dinitrogen tetroxide, strong and weak acids with the pH scale, and pH titration curves with indicator ranges.

1. Dynamic equilibrium 3D · 7.1

In a closed system a reversible reaction reaches a point where the forward and backward reactions run at the same rate. Nothing stops: the concentrations stay constant only because every conversion one way is matched by one the other way. Watch the particles switch and the graph level off.

drag to rotate · blue A ⇌ pink B

Rates

6
3
A → B PER SECOND
B → A PER SECOND
FRACTION OF B
K = kf / kb

2. Le Chatelier and the Haber process 3D · 7.1

N₂ + 3H₂ ⇌ 2NH₃, ΔH = −92 kJ mol⁻¹. Change the pressure or the temperature and the position of equilibrium moves to oppose the change. The yield shown is calculated from the real equilibrium constant, so you can see why industry compromises at about 450 °C and 200 atm with an iron catalyst.

drag to rotate · N₂ blue, H₂ white, NH₃ green

Conditions

450 °C
200 atm
NH₃ AT EQUILIBRIUM
Kp
RATE (RELATIVE)

3. The equilibrium constant Kc 7.1

Kc is the ratio of product to reactant concentrations at equilibrium, each raised to its coefficient. It depends only on temperature. Fill in what was there at the start and how much of one species is left at equilibrium, and the ICE table does the rest.

Reaction

1.0 dm³

ICE table (moles)

Kc

4. Kp: partial pressures and the dissociation of N₂O₄ 3D · 7.1

For gases the equilibrium constant is written with partial pressures. N₂O₄ ⇌ 2NO₂ has Kp = 0.15 atm at 25 °C. Squeeze the mixture and it turns paler as the equilibrium shifts to the side with fewer molecules, yet Kp stays the same. Check the numbers.

drag to rotate · N₂O₄ pale, NO₂ brown

Total pressure

1.0 atm
DEGREE OF DISSOCIATION α
Kp = p(NO₂)² / p(N₂O₄)

5. Acids and bases: strong, weak, and the pH scale 3D · 7.2

A Brønsted-Lowry acid donates a proton; a base accepts one. A strong acid is fully ionised in water; a weak acid sets up an equilibrium with only a small fraction ionised. Compare the beakers and the pH.

drag to rotate · left: strong acid, right: weak acid

Solutions

0.10 mol dm⁻³
STRONG: pH
WEAK: pH
STRONG: % IONISED
100 %
WEAK: % IONISED

6. pH titration curves and choosing an indicator 2D · 7.2

As base is added to an acid the pH climbs slowly, jumps steeply near the equivalence point, then levels off. The shape depends on whether the acid and base are strong or weak, and an indicator only works if its colour change falls inside the steep part.

Titration (25.0 cm³ of 0.100 mol dm⁻³ acid, 0.100 mol dm⁻³ base)

pH AT THE START
pH AT EQUIVALENCE
STEEP REGION
INDICATOR SUITABLE?
TheLucidSTEM · Cambridge International AS Level Chemistry 9701 · Topic 7 Equilibria. Every scene runs in the browser; drag to rotate 3D scenes, wheel to zoom. Values are standard textbook data rounded for teaching.

About this lab: Equilibria

Dynamic equilibrium particle by particle with a rate graph, Le Chatelier and the Haber process with yields from the real equilibrium constant, Kc from an ICE table, Kp and the dissociation of dinitrogen tetroxide in 3D, strong against weak acids with the pH scale, and pH titration curves with indicator ranges.

Six simulations covering Topic 7: dynamic equilibrium particle by particle, Le Chatelier and the Haber process with yields from the real equilibrium constant, Kc from an ICE table, Kp and the dissociation of dinitrogen tetroxide, strong and weak acids with the pH scale, and pH titration curves with indicator ranges.

Equilibria is a free, browser-based simulation for Cambridge International AS & A Level Chemistry 9701 (topic 7 Equilibria). The same ideas are examined in Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry 0620 (topic 7 Acids, bases and salts, topic 6 Chemical reactions). The course is assessed in Paper 1 (Multiple Choice (AS)), Paper 2 (AS Structured), Paper 3 (Advanced Practical), Paper 4 (A Level Structured), Paper 5 (Planning, Analysis, Evaluation). Syllabus for examination in 2025-2027. There are 6 tabs, each a self-contained experiment with its own controls and live readings, and nothing to install: it runs on a laptop, tablet or classroom projector.

Syllabus coverage

Full syllabus map: AS Level Chemistry 9701 topic 7.

How to use this simulation

  1. 1. Dynamic equilibrium. In a closed system a reversible reaction reaches a point where the forward and backward reactions run at the same rate.
  2. 2. Le Chatelier and the Haber process. N₂ + 3H₂ ⇌ 2NH₃, ΔH = −92 kJ mol⁻¹.
  3. 3. The equilibrium constant Kc. Kc is the ratio of product to reactant concentrations at equilibrium, each raised to its coefficient.
  4. 4. Kp: partial pressures and the dissociation of N₂O₄. For gases the equilibrium constant is written with partial pressures.
  5. 5. Acids and bases: strong, weak, and the pH scale. A Brønsted-Lowry acid donates a proton; a base accepts one.
  6. 6. pH titration curves and choosing an indicator. As base is added to an acid the pH climbs slowly, jumps steeply near the equivalence point, then levels off.
  7. The buttons at the end of the tab strip give the scene the whole window (Full screen, Hide controls) and, on a dark stage, a projector-friendly palette (Light scene). Many scenes also have drag handles: drag them to change the set-up directly.

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