What is the effect of increasing temperature on the equilibrium constant of an e
Practice Questions
Q1
What is the effect of increasing temperature on the equilibrium constant of an exothermic reaction?
Increases
Decreases
Remains the same
Becomes zero
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
What is the effect of increasing temperature on the equilibrium constant of an exothermic reaction?
Correct Answer: Equilibrium constant decreases.
Step 1: Understand what an exothermic reaction is. It is a reaction that releases heat.
Step 2: Know that the equilibrium constant (K) is a number that tells us the ratio of products to reactants at equilibrium.
Step 3: Learn about Le Chatelier's principle, which states that if you change the conditions of a reaction at equilibrium, the system will adjust to counteract that change.
Step 4: Recognize that increasing the temperature adds heat to an exothermic reaction.
Step 5: Apply Le Chatelier's principle: since the reaction releases heat, adding heat will shift the equilibrium to the left (toward the reactants).
Step 6: Understand that when the equilibrium shifts to the left, the concentration of reactants increases and the concentration of products decreases.
Step 7: Conclude that as a result, the equilibrium constant (K) decreases because it is based on the ratio of products to reactants.
