Reversible reactions Flashcards
What is meant by equilibrium?
When the forward reaction occurs at exactly the same rate as the backwards one
What happens to the reaction at equilibrium?
- There’s no overall effect
- This means that the concentration of reactants and products have reached a balance and will not change
What are the conditions needed in order to reach equilibrium?
- Equilibrium can only be achieved if the reaction takes place in a closed system
- This means that none of the reactants and products can escape and nothing else can get in
What happens if the equilibrium lies to the right?
This means that the concentration of the products is greater than that of the reactants
What happens if the equilibrium lies to the left?
This means that the concentration of the reactants is greater than that of the products
What does the position of the equilibrium depend on?
- Temperature
- Concentration
- Pressure
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 the change
What happens to the equilibrium if the temperature is changed?
- If you decrease the temperature, the equilibrium will move in the exothermic direction to produce more heat
- If you increase the temperature, the equilibrium will move in the endothermic direction to try and decrease it
What happens to the equilibrium if the pressure is changed?
- If you increase the pressure, the equilibrium tries to reduce it. It will move in the direction where there are fewer molecules of gas
- If you decrease the pressure, the equilibrium tries to increase it. It will move in the direction where there are more molecules of gas
What happens to the equilibrium if the concentration is changed
?
- If you increase the concentration of the reactants, the system tries to decrease it by making more products
- If you decrease the concentration of the products, the system tries to increase it again by reducing the amount of reactants
