When a small quantity of hydrochloric acid (HCl) is added at equilibrium, the equilibrium will shift to the left in the direction of the reactants. This is because HCl is a strong acid, and it will react with one of the products in the equilibrium reaction.
This reaction can be represented by the equation:
HCl + H2O ⇌ H3O+ + Cl-
As HCl is added, it will react with water (H2O) to form hydronium ions (H3O+) and chloride ions (Cl-). This reaction consumes water and increases the concentration of H3O+ ions in the solution.
Since an increase in the concentration of H3O+ ions corresponds to a decrease in pH, the addition of HCl at equilibrium will lower the pH of the system. Thus, the pH of the solution will decrease.
Identify the shift in equilibruim and the effect on the pH of the system when a small quantity of hydrochloric acid is added at equilibrium
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