How does the addition of an inert gas at constant volume affect the equilibrium of a reaction?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
How does the addition of an inert gas at constant volume affect the equilibrium of a reaction?
Shifts equilibrium to the right
Shifts equilibrium to the left
No effect on equilibrium
Increases the reaction rate
Adding an inert gas at constant volume does not change the partial pressures of the reactants or products, thus having no effect on the equilibrium position.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: How does the addition of an inert gas at constant volume affect the equilibrium of a reaction?
Solution: Adding an inert gas at constant volume does not change the partial pressures of the reactants or products, thus having no effect on the equilibrium position.
Steps: 6
Step 1: Understand what an inert gas is. An inert gas is a gas that does not react with the substances in the reaction.
Step 2: Know that equilibrium in a reaction means the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are equal.
Step 3: Recognize that adding an inert gas at constant volume means the total volume of the system does not change.
Step 4: Realize that the addition of the inert gas increases the total pressure of the system but does not change the amount of reactants or products.
Step 5: Understand that the partial pressures of the reactants and products remain the same because the inert gas does not participate in the reaction.
Step 6: Conclude that since the partial pressures are unchanged, the equilibrium position of the reaction is also unchanged.
