Chapter 6, Problem 14E

Consider the following reaction at some temperature:

${\text{H}}_{\text{2}}\text{O}\left(g\right)+\text{CO}\left(g\right)\rightleftharpoons {\text{H}}_{\text{2}}\left(g\right)+{\text{CO}}_{\text{2}}\left(g\right)K=2.0$

Some molecules of ${\text{H}}_{\text{2}}\text{O}$ and CO are placed in a 1.0-Lcontainer as shown below.

When equilibrium is reached, how many molecules of ${\text{H}}_{\text{2}}{\text{O, CO, H}}_{\text{2}}{\text{, and CO}}_{\text{2}}$ are present? Do this problem bytrial and error—that is, if two molecules of CO react, isthis equilibrium; if three molecules of CO react, is thisequilibrium; and so on.