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FACTORS AFFECTING EQUILIBRIUM

CONCENTRATION If the concentration of a reactant increases, more of that reactant reacts, and so the concentration of the reactants on the other side of the equation increases. Removing a reactant lowers the concentration of the reactant and so less of that reactant reacts and so the concentration of the reactants on the other side of the equation decreases.

The rates of the forward and reverse reactions will not be equal for a short while. The concentrations are restored to the original values. The reaction rates once again become equal and equilibrium is restored.

The value of Kequ is unaffected by adding or removing reactants, providing the temperature does not change.

Represent these changes graphically.


forward reaction reverse reaction

X when reactant was added


Y when equilibrium was restored

forward reaction reverse reaction

X when product was removed


Y when equilibrium was restored

PRESSURE Changes in pressure only affect the equilibrium if the reactants or products are in the gas phase.
A change in pressure can be brought about by changing the volume of the container. Adding or removing one of the reacting gases changes the partial pressure of that gas and disturbs the equilibrium Adding or removing a non-reacting gas has no effect on the equilibrium.

Explaining these changes: When the pressure in the equilibrium system is increased, the system will respond by trying to counteract that change. Fewer particles must be formed and so the rate of the reaction that forms fewer particles will increase for a while until the original equilibrium conditions are restored. The value of Kequ is unaffected by adding or removing reactants, providing the temperature does not change.

N2O4(g) 2NO2(g)
X when pressure was increased
Y when equilibrium was restored forward reaction producing fewer molecules reverse reaction producing more molecules

X when pressure was decreased


Y when equilibrium was restored forward reaction producing fewer molecules reverse reaction producing more molecules

TEMPERATURE Increasing the temperature of an equilibrium system increases the rate of both the forward and the reverse reactions as more particles have sufficient energy to make effective collisions.

However, in order to counteract the increase in temperature, the endothermic reaction rate increases even more.

After a time the rates adjust and equilibrium is restored.


However, as both rates are higher, the equilibrium has a new value for Eequ.

H values given with the equation for a reversible reaction refer to the forward reaction.

Forward reaction (exothermic) Reverse reaction endothermic)

X when temperature increased


Y when equilibrium was restored

Forward reaction (endothermic)

Reverse reaction (exothermic)

X when temperature decreased


Y when equilibrium was restored

N2O4(g) 2NO2(g)
Increasing the temperature causes more NO2 to form. The forward reaction must be endothermic. N2O4(g) 2NO2(g) and H > 0

A CATALYST

A catalyst affects the rate of both the forward and the reverse reactions equally and so has no effect on the position of the equilibrium or the value of Kequ

These observations and explanations can be summed up in le Chateliers principle: If a system in chemical equilibrium is subjected to a change of temperature, pressure or concentration, processes occur within the system which tend to counteract the change imposed.

Imposed change
Increase concentration of reactants Decrease concentration of reactants Increase pressure Decrease pressure Increase temperature

System response
Favour forward reaction to increase concentration of products Favour reverse reaction to decrease concentration of products Favour the reaction that produces fewer particles Favour the reaction that produces more particles

Change in Kequ
none

None

none none

Favour the endothermic reaction Yes Yes

Decrease temperature Favour the exothermic reaction

What must you be able to do?


describe the factors that affect an equilibrium. Explain why these factors affect the position of an equilibrium. interpret graphs that show changes in the position of an equilibrium. Use le Chateliers principle to explain changes in an equilibrium.

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