Grade 12 · Chemistry
Equilibrium problems
Why it matters
ICE tables and solving for concentrations.
Advanced20m readingPrerequisite: The equilibrium constant
What is an ICE table?
Short answer
An ICE table is a bookkeeping tool for solving equilibrium problems, with rows for Initial concentration, Change, and Equilibrium concentration of each species. You fill in the known initial amounts, express the changes using the reaction’s stoichiometry and an unknown x, and write the equilibrium amounts. Substituting these into the equilibrium expression lets you solve for x and the concentrations.
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Frequently asked questions
- What do the rows of an ICE table stand for?
- Initial concentration, the Change as the reaction proceeds, and the Equilibrium concentration of each species.
- How does an ICE table help solve equilibrium problems?
- It expresses every equilibrium concentration in terms of one unknown, x, which you then solve using the equilibrium expression.