Sulfur trioxide is produced industrially via the gas-phase equilibrium
2SO2(g)+O2(g)⇌2SO3(g)
For this reaction, the equilibrium constant expressed in terms of molar concentrations has been measured at two temperatures:
• Kc=1.5×105 at 450 K
• Kc=3.5×104 at 700 K
(a) Determine the value of Δn for the balanced equation.
(b) Calculate Kp at 450 K.
(c) Calculate Kp at 700 K.
(d) Using your results from parts (b) and (c), analyze how the ratio Kp/Kc varies with temperature for this reaction. Explain the underlying reason for the trend you observe, making explicit reference to molecular stoichiometry and the gas constant.