Chemistry 12 · Chemistry · Lesson 2.6
Equilibrium calculations
- Level
- Grade 12
- Reading time
- 11 min reading
- Review
- Last reviewed 2026-09-03
- Standard
- Accuracy standard
- Errata
Abstract
ICE tables and solving for concentrations.
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.
Concept preview
What you will be able to do
- 01Set up and complete an ICE table
- 02Calculate Keq from equilibrium concentrations
- 03Solve for an unknown equilibrium concentration, using an approximation where valid
Almost every equilibrium calculation is organised with an ICE table — three rows labelled Initial, Change, and Equilibrium, one column per species. The Initial row holds the starting concentrations; the Change row records how each concentration changes as the reaction moves to equilibrium; and the Equilibrium row is simply Initial plus Change. The changes always follow the coefficients of the balanced equation: for , if changes by then changes by and changes by .
School Plan
Equilibrium calculations
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Related topics
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.