What should you do when provided with two different equilibrium constants to find a net equation?

When dealing with multiple equilibrium constants to find a net equation, the correct approach is to multiply them. This principle arises from how equilibrium constants are derived from chemical reactions.

Each equilibrium constant corresponds to a specific balanced chemical reaction at a given temperature. When combining two reactions, if the reactions are sequential (one follows the other), the overall reaction can be represented by multiplying the individual equilibrium constants together. This is because the equilibrium constant for the overall reaction is determined by the product of the equilibrium constants for the component reactions.

For example, if you have two reactions where you know their equilibrium constants, (K_1) for reaction 1 and (K_2) for reaction 2, and if you add these reactions together to derive a new net chemical equation, the equilibrium constant (K_{net}) for the overall reaction will be calculated as (K_{net} = K_1 \times K_2). This reflects the relationship that the concentrations of reactants and products in the combined reaction can be expressed in terms of those in the individual reactions.

This principle is critical in understanding how reactions influence one another and helps to maintain the proper logical sequence in thermodynamic processes.