Editing Equilibrium constant (section)

{{Short description|Chemical property}}
{{For|experimental methods and computational details|Determination of equilibrium constants}}
 
The '''equilibrium constant''' of a chemical reaction is the value of its [[reaction quotient]] at [[chemical equilibrium]], a state approached by a dynamic chemical system after sufficient time has elapsed at which its composition has no measurable tendency towards further change. For a given set of reaction conditions, the equilibrium constant is independent of the initial analytical concentrations of the reactant and product species in the mixture.  Thus, given the initial composition of a system, known equilibrium constant values can be used to determine the [[Chemical equilibrium#Composition of a mixture|composition of the system at equilibrium]].  However, reaction parameters like temperature, solvent, and [[ionic strength]] may all influence the value of the equilibrium constant.

A knowledge of equilibrium constants is essential for the understanding of many chemical systems, as well as the biochemical processes such as oxygen transport by [[hemoglobin]] in blood and [[acid–base homeostasis]] in the human body.

[[Stability constants of complexes|Stability constants]], formation constants, [[binding constant]]s, association constants and [[dissociation constant]]s are all types of '''equilibrium constants'''.