In the equilibrium reaction 2SO2(g) + O2(g) ⇌ 2SO3(g), if SO2 is added, what will be the effect on the equilibrium?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
In the equilibrium reaction 2SO2(g) + O2(g) ⇌ 2SO3(g), if SO2 is added, what will be the effect on the equilibrium?
Shift to the right
Shift to the left
No change
Increase in pressure
Adding SO2 will shift the equilibrium to the right to produce more SO3, according to Le Chatelier's principle.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: In the equilibrium reaction 2SO2(g) + O2(g) ⇌ 2SO3(g), if SO2 is added, what will be the effect on the equilibrium?
Solution: Adding SO2 will shift the equilibrium to the right to produce more SO3, according to Le Chatelier's principle.
Steps: 7
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 left to right (producing SO3) and from right to left (producing SO2 and O2).
Step 3: Know that equilibrium means the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are equal, and the concentrations of the reactants and products remain constant.
Step 4: When you add more SO2 to the system, you increase the concentration of one of the reactants.
Step 5: According to Le Chatelier's principle, if you change the concentration of a reactant or product, the equilibrium will shift to counteract that change.
Step 6: Since you added SO2, the equilibrium will shift to the right to use up the extra SO2 and produce more SO3.
Step 7: The result is an increase in the concentration of SO3.
