For the reaction CO(g) + 2H2(g) ⇌ CH3OH(g), what happens if H2 is removed from t

For the reaction CO(g) + 2H2(g) ⇌ CH3OH(g), what happens if H2 is removed from the system?

For the reaction CO(g) + 2H2(g) ⇌ CH3OH(g), what happens if H2 is removed from the system?

Step 1: Understand the reaction CO(g) + 2H2(g) ⇌ CH3OH(g). This means carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen gas (H2) react to form methanol (CH3OH).
Step 2: Recognize that the reaction is at equilibrium, meaning the forward and reverse reactions are happening at the same rate.
Step 3: Identify what happens when H2 is removed from the system. This means there is less hydrogen gas available for the reaction.
Step 4: Apply Le Chatelier's Principle, which states that if a change is made to a system at equilibrium, the system will adjust to counteract that change.
Step 5: Since H2 is removed, the system will try to produce more H2 to restore balance.
Step 6: To produce more H2, the reaction will shift to the left, meaning it will favor the reactants (CO and H2) over the product (CH3OH).

Le Chatelier's Principle – This principle states that if a dynamic equilibrium is disturbed by changing the conditions, the position of equilibrium shifts to counteract the change.
Equilibrium Shift – Understanding how the removal of a reactant affects the direction of the equilibrium shift in a chemical reaction.