In the reaction 2SO2(g) + O2(g) ⇌ 2SO3(g), what is the effect of increasing the pressure on the equilibrium?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
In the reaction 2SO2(g) + O2(g) ⇌ 2SO3(g), what is the effect of increasing the pressure on the equilibrium?
Shift to the left
Shift to the right
No effect
Depends on the temperature
Increasing the pressure will shift the equilibrium towards the side with fewer moles of gas, which is the right side in this case (2 moles of SO3).
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: In the reaction 2SO2(g) + O2(g) ⇌ 2SO3(g), what is the effect of increasing the pressure on the equilibrium?
Solution: Increasing the pressure will shift the equilibrium towards the side with fewer moles of gas, which is the right side in this case (2 moles of SO3).
Steps: 7
Step 1: Identify the reaction: 2SO2(g) + O2(g) ⇌ 2SO3(g).
Step 2: Count the number of gas molecules on each side of the reaction.
Step 3: On the left side (reactants), there are 2 moles of SO2 and 1 mole of O2, totaling 3 moles of gas.
Step 4: On the right side (products), there are 2 moles of SO3, totaling 2 moles of gas.
Step 5: Compare the number of moles of gas on both sides: 3 moles on the left and 2 moles on the right.
Step 6: Understand that increasing pressure in a reaction shifts the equilibrium towards the side with fewer moles of gas.
Step 7: Since the right side has fewer moles (2 moles of SO3), the equilibrium will shift to the right.
