Equilibria

• State le Chatelier's principle

  When a factor that affects the equilibrium is changed, the equilibrium position will shift to counteract that change
• catalyst on the position of an equilibrium

  no change
• features of a reaction at equilibrium

  • The rates of the forward and backward reactions are equal
  • The reactant and product concentrations are constant
  • The rates of the forward and backwards reactions are constant
• lowering the concentration of a product

  • shifts the equilibrium position to the right.
  • This shift increases the product yield
• increasing the pressure

  • the position of equilibrium to shift to the side with fewer gas molecules
• • Increasing the size of the container is the same as lowering the pressure
  • position of equilibrium will shift to the right, since there are more gas molecules of products
  • This will increase the yield of the reaction
• decrease in temperature when forward reaction is exothermic

  • the position of equilibrium shifts to the right
  • yield of reaction will decrease
• decrease in temperature when forward reaction is endothermic

  • the position of equilibrium shifts to the left
  • yield of reaction will increase
• increase in temperature when the forward reaction is exothermic


  • the position of equilibrium shifts to the left
  • This will increase the yield of the reaction
• increase in temperature when the forward reaction is endothermic


  • position of equilibrium shifts to the right
  • This will decrease the yield of the reaction