- #1
Markymark137
- 2
- 0
We recently started learning about equilibria and Le Chatelier's principle at school. One of my classmates asked the teacher the following question: "I know this might sound stupid, and I understand Le Chatelier's principle in that any change made to a system in equilibrium will be undone as much as possible by the system, but why does this happen?". My teacher was at a loss for words, and I, arrogantly and confidently, said "It's obviously to do with physical laws." After I was required to explain my statement, things didn't seem so easy any longer.
I understand the physics & thermodynamics behind changes such as temperature (I know that an increased temperature favors the endothermic reaction more than the backwards reaction, but bonus point for anyone who could explain why!), product/reactant concentration, and pressure, but it seems that Le Chatelier's principle is something that should be taken for granted in a univrse such as ours - my first guess as to why this might be would be to do with the conservation of energy, but this is just a guess or an intuition and I would be extremely grateful to anyone who could explain if and why Le Chatelier's principle is a must and a given to a world such as the one we live in.
Thank you!
I understand the physics & thermodynamics behind changes such as temperature (I know that an increased temperature favors the endothermic reaction more than the backwards reaction, but bonus point for anyone who could explain why!), product/reactant concentration, and pressure, but it seems that Le Chatelier's principle is something that should be taken for granted in a univrse such as ours - my first guess as to why this might be would be to do with the conservation of energy, but this is just a guess or an intuition and I would be extremely grateful to anyone who could explain if and why Le Chatelier's principle is a must and a given to a world such as the one we live in.
Thank you!