equilibrium summary

Question

Determine and explain the direction of the shift in equilibrium when external changes are applied to an exothermic reaction

4NH₃ (g) + 5 O₂ (g) => 4 NO (g) + 6 H₂O (g)

a. an increase in temperature

b. a decrease in pressure

c. removal of water from the system

Answer 1

If the reaction is EXOTHERMIC, that means heat is liberated or given off, and so it can be viewed as a product.

All of these are predicted based on Le Chatelier's Principle.

a). an increase in temperature will shift the equilibrium to the left toward the reactants since heat is a product

b). a decrease in pressure will shift the equilibrium to the right toward the products since there are more moles of gas on the product side

c). removal of water will shift the equilibrium to the right toward the products in order to overcome the removal of water.