the following reaction is endothermic; 3O2(g) = 2O3(g) If this reation is at equilibrium will it shift to the right or left if we:

1) add some oxygen

1 answer

In simple one syllable words, Le Chatelier's Principle tells us that a system at equilibrium will try to undo what we do to it. So if we add O2 to it it will try to get rid of the extra O2 we've added. How can it do that? Only one way. If it shifts to the right it uses O2 (which is what it does to get rid of the extra O2 added). If it shifts to the left, more O2 will be formed (which isn't getting rid of it).