Use the chemical reaction to answer the question.

Question

CH (g) + H O(g) + energy ⇄ CO(g) + H (g)
Which statement best describes the effect of adding more steam to the system?
(1 point)
4 2 2
Adding steam allows more molecules of the products to collide, causing the rate of the forward
reaction to increase.
Adding steam allows more molecules of the reactants to collide, causing the rate of the reverse
reaction to increase.
Adding steam allows more molecules of the products to collide, causing the rate of the reverse
reaction to increase.
Adding steam allows more molecules of the reactants to collide, causing the rate of the forward
reaction to increase.

Answer 1

In the given chemical reaction:

\[ \text{CH (g) + H}_2\text{O (g) + energy} \rightleftharpoons \text{CO (g) + H}_2\text{(g)} \]

Adding more steam (H₂O) effectively increases the concentration of one of the reactants. According to Le Chatelier's principle, when you increase the concentration of a reactant, the system will shift to the right to counteract that change, leading to an increase in the production of products (CO and H₂).

Thus, the correct statement that best describes the effect of adding more steam to the system is:

Adding steam allows more molecules of the reactants to collide, causing the rate of the forward reaction to increase.