Consider the following reaction at equilibrium: CO2 + H2O ⇔ H2CO3. What would be the effect of adding additional H2O?

Question

Reactions in both the directions will slow down.
It would drive the equilibrium dynamics to the left.
It would drive the equilibrium dynamics to the right.
Nothing would happen because the reactants and products are in equilibrium.

Answer 1

Adding additional H2O to the equilibrium reaction CO2 + H2O ⇔ H2CO3 would shift the equilibrium to the right. According to Le Chatelier's principle, if a system at equilibrium is disturbed by changing the concentration of one of the reactants or products, the equilibrium will shift in the direction that counteracts the change.

In this case, increasing the concentration of H2O (one of the reactants) will drive the reaction towards the formation of more H2CO3 (the product), thus favoring the forward reaction.

So, the correct answer is: It would drive the equilibrium dynamics to the right.