FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE ROE

• CONCENTRATION- Le Chatelier’s Principle:

  • When a SYSTEM is at EQUILIBRIUM, if there is a CHANGE made to the CONDITIONS, the system COUNTERACTS that CHANGE
• INCREASING CONCENTRATION:

  2NO2 ⇌ N2O4

  • Increasing the concentration of NO2 means that the system is no longer at EQUILIBRIUM
  • More NO2 forms N2O4 until EQUILIBRIUM is met
• DECREASING CONCENTRATION:

  2NO2 ⇌ N2O4

  • Decreasing the concentration of N2O4 means that the system is no longer at EQUILIBRIUM
  • More NO2 forms N2O4 until EQUILIBRIUM is met
• TEMPERATURE:

  • If the reaction is EXOTHERMIC in one direction, it will be ENDOTHERMIC in the other
• 2NO2 ⇌ N2O4

  • Forwards reaction is EXOTHERMIC (energy is RELEASED, temperature of the system INCREASES)
  • Backwards reaction is ENDOTHERMIC (energy is taken IN, temperature of the system DECREASES)
• PRESSURE:

  • Effects reactions involving GASES
  • Increasing the pressure- EQUILIBRIUM shifts to the side with the SMALLER number of MOLECULES
  • Decreasing the pressure- EQUILIBRIUM shifts to the side with the LARGER number of MOLECULES
  • Same number of MOLECULES on each side- changing pressure has NO effect