In a system at equilibrium, what is the effect of decreasing the volume of the container?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
In a system at equilibrium, what is the effect of decreasing the volume of the container?
Shifts to the side with more moles of gas
Shifts to the side with fewer moles of gas
No effect
Increases the temperature
Decreasing the volume increases the pressure, which shifts the equilibrium towards the side with fewer moles of gas.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: In a system at equilibrium, what is the effect of decreasing the volume of the container?
Solution: Decreasing the volume increases the pressure, which shifts the equilibrium towards the side with fewer moles of gas.
Steps: 5
Step 1: Understand that a system at equilibrium has a balance between reactants and products.
Step 2: Know that decreasing the volume of the container means the space for the gases is smaller.
Step 3: Recognize that when the volume decreases, the pressure inside the container increases.
Step 4: Remember that according to Le Chatelier's principle, if you change the conditions of a system at equilibrium, it will shift to counteract that change.
Step 5: Since the pressure increases when the volume decreases, the equilibrium will shift towards the side of the reaction that has fewer moles of gas to reduce the pressure.
