[angiems]

Does anyone know the difference between thermodynamic and practical equilibrium constants?  I can't seem to find much anywhere

[Mitch]

 

[dexangeles]

huh???  isn't equilibrium constant = k = products/reactants (on any reaction)

[Demotivator]

The question is a bit confused. The so called "practical" equil const and thermodynamic equil const are the same constant. It's all thermodynamics.

Perhaps by "practical" she means, by direct measurement of the concentrations of species to solve for K.

Perhaps thermodynamic means:
One can obtain K indirectly by measuring the thermodynamic properties of the system.
DG = DG(0) + RT ln K = -nfe(0) + RT lnK
at equilibrium DG = 0, so
nfe(0) = RT lnK  meaning K can be meaured through the standard emf.
Or by thermochemistry:
DG(0) = DH(0) - TdS(0) = RTlnK

[Tiger]

The practical one is probably one that ignores minor effects like species
with a small conc.
Thermodynamic is exact.
I have never heard of a practical one before.

[angiems]

Rereading the text (for some reason, the first fifteen times I read this part, I did NOT catch this), it states that a thermodynamic equilibrium constant is unitless, while a practical equilibrium constant has units.

So... I don't think any of you is right, per se, at least not in what they were getting at, but thanks a lot for the help