[Unit 6.2] | Changing Equilibrium Conditions

Question 1

What does Le Chatelier’s Principle state?

Answer 1

• Equilibrium mixtures act to counteract any cause of imbalance within a system.

Question 2

What is the effect of increasing the concentration of reactants on the equilibrium?

Answer 2

• System acts to oppose change.
• Equilibrium shifts to the right.
• More products are produced.

• Equilibrium returns to initial point once balance is restored.

Question 3

What is the effect of increasing the pressure of a system on the equilibrium?

Answer 3

• System acts to oppose change.
• Equilibrium shifts to the side where less particles are produced.
• Equilibrium returns to initial point once balance is restored.

• If there is the same number of molecules on either side, no change can be made to reduce the pressure.
• Rate of reaction permanently increases.

Question 4

What is the effect of increasing the temperature of a system on the equilibrium?

Answer 4

• System acts to oppose change
• Equilibrium permanently shifts to favour the exothermic reaction
• Temperature is thereby reduced.

Question 5

What is the effect of adding a catalyst on the equilibrium?

Answer 5

• No impact on position of equilibrium.

• Alternate pathway with lower Activation Energy for both reactions.
• Higher rate of reaction.