Equilibrium constant

The equilibrium constant of a chemical reaction is the value of its <a href="/facts/Reaction_quotient/IFXakxA7">reaction quotient</a> at <a href="/facts/Chemical_equilibrium/y8ToYXHp">chemical equilibrium</a>, a state approached by a dynamic chemical system after sufficient time has elapsed at which its composition has no measurable tendency towards further change. For a given set of reaction conditions, the equilibrium constant is independent of the initial analytical concentrations of the reactant and product species in the mixture. Thus, given the initial composition of a system, known equilibrium constant values can be used to determine the <a href="/facts/Chemical_equilibrium/y8ToYXHp">composition of the system at equilibrium</a>. However, reaction parameters like temperature, solvent, and <a href="/facts/Ionic_strength/72GKfhmE">ionic strength</a> may all influence the value of the equilibrium constant.
A knowledge of equilibrium constants is essential for the understanding of many chemical systems, as well as the biochemical processes such as oxygen transport by <a href="/facts/Hemoglobin/RsD1MzYA">hemoglobin</a> in blood and <a href="/facts/Acid%E2%80%93base_homeostasis/y4U6UENE">acid–base homeostasis</a> in the human body.
<a href="/facts/Stability_constants_of_complexes/7b2VkVb2">Stability constants</a>, formation constants, <a href="/facts/Binding_constant/MA7wKe5v">binding constants</a>, association constants and <a href="/facts/Dissociation_constant/uvaKXf26">dissociation constants</a> are all types of equilibrium constants.

Equilibrium constant open-in-new

Equilibrium constant