Le chatelier’s principal Flashcards
What is Le chatelier’s principle ?
It is the idea that if you change the conditions of a reversible reaction at equilibrium, the system will try to counteract that change.
What can Le chatelier’s principal be used for ?
It can be used to predict the effect of any changes you make to a reaction system.
What happens if you decrease the temperature in a reversible reaction ?
If you decrease the temperature, the equilibrium will move in the exothermic direction to produce more heat. This means you’ll get more products for the exothermic reaction and fewer products for the endothermic reaction.
What happens if you increase the temperature in a reversible reaction?
If you raise the temperature, the equilibrium will move in the endothermic direction to try decrease it. You’ll now get more products for the endothermic reaction and fewer products for the exothermic reaction.
True or false: pressure only affect an equilibrium involving gases.
True
What happens if you increase the pressure of a reversible reaction ?
If you increase the pressure, the equilibrium tried to reduce it - it moves in the direction where there are fewer molecules of gas.
What happens if you decrease the pressure in a reversible reaction ?
If you decrease the pressure, the equilibrium tried to increase it -
it moves in the direction where there are more molecules of gas.
What happens when you change the concentration of either the reactants or the products?
The system will no longer be at equilibrium.
How does the system respond to a change in the concentration if either the reactants or products?
It responds to bring itself back to equilibrium again.
What happens if you increase the concentration of reactants in a reversible reaction ?
The system tried to decrease it by making more products.
What happens if you decrease the concentration of products in a reversible reaction ?
The system tries to increase it again by reducing the amount of reactants.
