If you remove some CO2(g) from an equilibrium mixture represented below, which direction would you expect the equilibrium to shift?
C3H8(l) + 5O2(g) → 4H2O(g) + 3CO2(g)
a. right
b. left
c. no change
d. indeterminable based on information given
1 answer
I think the definitions in texts and lecture notes sounds so very esoteric when discussing Le Chatelier's Principle; however, it seems to confuse most students. Therefore, I've developed my own definition for purposes of Le Chatelier's Principle. In a nutshell, in a system at equilibrium, the reaction will shift so as to UNDO what we do to it. Therefore, if we remove some of the CO2 the reaction will try to make more CO2 to undo what we just did. How can it do that? By shifting to the right to produce more CO2. Adding H2O would make it go to the left with the same kind of reasoning. Adding O2 would make it go to the right with the same reasoning.