What is the equilibrium constant symbolized by Kc used for?

The equilibrium constant, represented by Kc, is fundamentally used to express the relationship between the concentrations of reactants and products at equilibrium in a chemical reaction. It provides a quantitative measure of the position of equilibrium, indicating how far the reaction has proceeded toward products under specific conditions.

When the concentration values of the reactants and products are known, Kc can be calculated using the formula that includes the concentrations of the products raised to the power of their coefficients in the balanced chemical equation divided by the concentrations of the reactants raised to the power of their coefficients. This allows chemists to predict how the reaction will behave when disturbed or to understand the balance between products and reactants at equilibrium.

While other options might appear relevant in broader contexts of chemical reactions, they do not accurately capture the primary role of Kc as a representation of the equilibrium state concerning concentrations.