Difference Between Kc and Kp

What is the difference between Kc and Kp? What are they used for in Chemistry? This article will attempt to answer these questions. We start with what each of them stands for, then go on to describe their uses.

Kc stands for “constant volume” and is a measure of how much heat is being given off or absorbed by a chemical reaction that takes place at constant pressure. When heat enters or leaves the system, the volume changes, so it can’t be measured at constant volume. The units typically associated with this type of measurement are joules per mole-kelvin (J/mol-K). Kp stands for “partial pressures” which measures how much gas is present during a reaction.

What is Kc?

1. It is the equilibrium constant which is a ratio of the concentration of reactants at the equilibrium in a reversible reaction.
2. Mathematically,

What is Kp?

1. It is the equilibrium constant which is a ratio of partial pressure of products and partial pressure of reactants at the equilibrium in a reversible reaction.
2. Mathematically,