Equilibrium

Question 1

What is Le Châtelier’s principle?

Answer 1

If a system at equilibrium experiences a change, the system will oppose that change to regain equilibrium.

Changes include:

• Temperature
• Volume/Concentration
• Pressure

Question 2

What is Kc

Answer 2

Kc is the equilibrium constant, this number represents the relationship between the products and reactants in an equilibrium system at a certain temperature.

Question 3

What happens when the pressure is decreased (increasing volume)?

Answer 3

The system will shift to the side with the highest number of particles. Due to the lowered collision frequency when decreasing the pressure, the reaction depending less on collisions, will occur at a greater extent.

Question 4

What happens when temperature is increased (exothermic)?

Answer 4

There will be a shift to the left, as the increased temperature favours the endothermic reaction.

Question 5

What happens when temperature is increased (endothermic)?

Answer 5

There will be a shift to the right, as the increased temperature favours the endothermic reaction.

Question 6

What happens when the solution is diluted?

Answer 6

The system will shift to the side with the highest number of particles. Due to the lowered collision frequency when diluting the solution, the reaction depending less on collisions, will occur at a greater extent.

Question 7

What is an open system?

Answer 7

A system in which both matter and energy can be exchanged with its surroundings.

Question 8

What is a closed system?

Answer 8

A system in which only energy can be exchanged with its surroundings.