Video Transcript
What is the backwards reaction for
the following reversible reaction? CoCl2 plus 6H2O in equilibrium with
CoCl2 6H2O.
A reversible reaction is a reaction
that can go in both directions. That means that not only can this
reaction go in the forward direction, where the anhydrous cobalt(II) chloride reacts
with water to form hydrated cobalt(II) chloride, but the reaction can also go
backwards, which is what this question is asking us for. In the forward direction, like
we’ve just seen, the reactants form the products. But in the backwards reaction, the
products form the reactants. So the backwards reaction for this
reaction would be our products, CoCl2 6H2O, reacting to form our reactants, the
anhydrous cobalt(II) chloride and water.
