Recent Developments and Applications of Pressure Jump Methods

Abstract

Pressure shifts a chemical equilibrium in a manner which is described by van’t Hoff’s equation

$$ {(\frac{{\partial \ln k}}{{\partial p}})_T} = \frac{{\vartriangle {V^O}}}{{RT}} $$

((1))

This relation is applicable to elementary reaction steps with equilibrium constant K and reaction volume ΔV° = ∑ ν_iV°_i where “°” stands for standard conditions, ν_i is the stoichiometric factor and V_i the partial molar volume of reactant i. Most reactions in solution imply volume changes due to changes in conformation or solvation and can consequently be influenced by pressure.