In a reaction at equilibrium, what happens if the pressure is increased by decreasing the volume?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
In a reaction at equilibrium, what happens if the pressure is increased by decreasing the volume?
Shifts to the side with more moles of gas
Shifts to the side with fewer moles of gas
No effect
Reaction stops
Increasing the pressure by decreasing the volume shifts the equilibrium towards the side with fewer moles of gas, according to Le Chatelier's Principle.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: In a reaction at equilibrium, what happens if the pressure is increased by decreasing the volume?
Solution: Increasing the pressure by decreasing the volume shifts the equilibrium towards the side with fewer moles of gas, according to Le Chatelier's Principle.
Steps: 6
Step 1: Understand that a chemical reaction can reach a state called equilibrium, where the forward and reverse reactions occur at the same rate.
Step 2: Recognize that gases occupy space, and their pressure is related to the volume they are in.
Step 3: Know that if you decrease the volume of the container, the pressure of the gas increases.
Step 4: Remember Le Chatelier's Principle, which states that if a system at equilibrium is disturbed, it will shift to counteract the disturbance.
Step 5: When pressure increases (due to decreased volume), the equilibrium will shift towards the side of the reaction that has fewer moles of gas.
Step 6: Identify which side of the reaction has fewer moles of gas to determine the direction of the shift.
