All of the texts give really GREAT (and quite esoteric) descriptions of Le Chatelier's Principle. I find that putting it down to earth helps. In plain words, Le Chatelier's Principle says that when we do something to a system at equilibrium it will react in such a ways so as to UNDO what we did. So to take your first one, which you've answered correctly, if we add Cl2 it will try to undo that. How can it undo adding Cl2. It can use up the Cl2. How can it do that. It can react to the left; doing that uses up the added Cl2.
b. Increasing pressure makes it shift to the side with the fewer mols. That is the left side so it will shift to the left (1 mol gas on the left and 2 mols gas on the right)
Now you try the others.
I'll be glad to check you work..
given
PCl5(g)+heat <-> PCl3(g)+Cl2(g)
a. addition of cl2
answer : would shift to the left
b. increase in pressure:
answer: ?
c. removal of heat
answer: ?
d. Removal of PCl3 as it forms
answer: ?
please help! thanks!
1 answer
1 answer