What is the effect of increasing temperature on the equilibrium constant (K) for
Practice Questions
Q1
What is the effect of increasing temperature on the equilibrium constant (K) for an exothermic reaction?
Increases K
Decreases K
No effect
Depends on concentration
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
What is the effect of increasing temperature on the equilibrium constant (K) for an exothermic reaction?
Step 1: Understand what an exothermic reaction is. It is a reaction that releases heat.
Step 2: Know that the equilibrium constant (K) is a number that tells us the ratio of products to reactants at equilibrium.
Step 3: Remember that increasing temperature adds heat to the system.
Step 4: For exothermic reactions, adding heat is like adding a product because heat is released during the reaction.
Step 5: According to Le Chatelier's principle, the system will try to counteract the change (increased heat) by shifting the equilibrium to the left, favoring the reactants.
Step 6: When the equilibrium shifts to the left, the concentration of products decreases and the concentration of reactants increases.
Step 7: Since K is the ratio of products to reactants, a decrease in products and an increase in reactants means that K will decrease.
