What effect does decreasing the temperature have on an endothermic reaction at equilibrium?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
What effect does decreasing the temperature have on an endothermic reaction at equilibrium?
Shifts to the right
Shifts to the left
No effect
Increases the reaction rate
Decreasing the temperature for an endothermic reaction shifts the equilibrium to the left, favoring the reactants, as the system tries to release heat.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: What effect does decreasing the temperature have on an endothermic reaction at equilibrium?
Solution: Decreasing the temperature for an endothermic reaction shifts the equilibrium to the left, favoring the reactants, as the system tries to release heat.
Steps: 6
Step 1: Understand that an endothermic reaction absorbs heat from the surroundings.
Step 2: Recognize that at equilibrium, the reaction has both reactants and products present in a stable ratio.
Step 3: Know that decreasing the temperature means the system loses heat.
Step 4: Realize that the system will try to counteract this loss of heat by shifting the reaction to produce more heat.
Step 5: Since the endothermic reaction absorbs heat, shifting to the left means favoring the reactants, which releases heat.
Step 6: Conclude that decreasing the temperature shifts the equilibrium to the left, favoring the reactants.
