Which of the following changes will NOT affect the position of equilibrium for the reaction: 2SO2(g) + O2(g) ⇌ 2SO3(g)?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
Which of the following changes will NOT affect the position of equilibrium for the reaction: 2SO2(g) + O2(g) ⇌ 2SO3(g)?
Increasing the concentration of SO2
Decreasing the temperature
Adding a catalyst
Increasing the volume of the container
A catalyst speeds up the rate of both the forward and reverse reactions equally, thus it does not affect the position of equilibrium.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: Which of the following changes will NOT affect the position of equilibrium for the reaction: 2SO2(g) + O2(g) ⇌ 2SO3(g)?
Solution: A catalyst speeds up the rate of both the forward and reverse reactions equally, thus it does not affect the position of equilibrium.
Steps: 6
Step 1: Understand what equilibrium means in a chemical reaction. It is the point where the rate of the forward reaction equals the rate of the reverse reaction.
Step 2: Identify the reaction given: 2SO2(g) + O2(g) ⇌ 2SO3(g). This means sulfur dioxide (SO2) and oxygen (O2) can turn into sulfur trioxide (SO3) and vice versa.
Step 3: Recognize that changes in concentration, temperature, or pressure can affect the position of equilibrium.
Step 4: Learn what a catalyst does. A catalyst is a substance that speeds up a reaction without being consumed in the process.
Step 5: Realize that a catalyst increases the speed of both the forward and reverse reactions equally.
Step 6: Conclude that since a catalyst does not change the ratio of products to reactants at equilibrium, it does NOT affect the position of equilibrium.
