Ethyl acetate is formed by the reaction between ethanol and acetic acid and the equilibrium is represented as :
` CH_3COOH(l) +C_2H_5OH(l) hArr CH_3COOC_2H_5(l) +H_2O(l)`
Starting with 0.5 mol of ethanol and 1.0 mol of acetic acid and maintaining it at 293 K, 0.214 mol of ethyl acetate is found after sometime . Has equilibrium been reached?

Answer

NO

Explanation

0.214 moles of ethyl acetate would be formed only when 0.214 moles of `CH_3COOH` combine with 0.214 moles of ethyl alcohol . Therefore
` {:( ,, CH_3COOH(l)+, C_2H_5OH(l) , hArr, CH_3COOC_2H_5(l) , +H_2O(l) ),( " Initial moles" ,, 1.000, , 0.500 , 0, 0 ),(" Moles after some times " ,, 1000 - 0.214 ,, 0.500 - 0.214 , 0.214, 0.214):}`
The concentration quotient at the given times is given by
` " " Q = (0.214 xx 0.214)/((1.000 - 0.214 )(0.500 - 0.214)) = 0.204`
Since the concentration quotient (0.204 ) is less than the equilibrium constant (3.919) , the equilibrium has not been attained.