In the reaction 2SO2(g) + O2(g) ⇌ 2SO3(g), what will happen if SO3 is added?
Practice Questions
Q1
In the reaction 2SO2(g) + O2(g) ⇌ 2SO3(g), what will happen if SO3 is added?
Shift to the right
Shift to the left
No change
Reaction stops
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
In the reaction 2SO2(g) + O2(g) ⇌ 2SO3(g), what will happen if SO3 is added?
Step 1: Understand that the reaction involves sulfur dioxide (SO2), oxygen (O2), and sulfur trioxide (SO3).
Step 2: Recognize that the reaction can go in both directions: from reactants (SO2 and O2) to products (SO3) and vice versa.
Step 3: Learn about 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 4: Identify that adding more SO3 increases the concentration of the product in the reaction.
Step 5: Apply Le Chatelier's Principle: since SO3 is added, the system will try to reduce the concentration of SO3 by shifting the equilibrium to the left.
Step 6: Conclude that shifting to the left means more reactants (SO2 and O2) will be formed.
