Does Le chatlier's law apply if reactants are liquids and a product is solid?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the chemical reaction between sodium thiosulfate and hydrochloric acid, producing sulfur, sodium chloride, water, and sulfur dioxide. A participant questions whether increasing the concentration of sodium thiosulfate would shift the equilibrium to the left, suggesting that this would lead to the breakdown of excess reactants to form more products, in line with Le Chatelier's principle. It is clarified that while the amount of solid does not affect equilibrium, changing concentrations can impact the system similarly to pressure changes. The conversation also addresses the reversibility of the reaction, with insights indicating that every reaction has some degree of reversibility. In this case, the reverse reaction is utilized to produce thiosulfates, although typically in alkaline solutions. The formation of sulfur as a colloid adds complexity to the reversibility, and practical challenges are noted, particularly for a 12th grader lacking advanced equipment for experiments.
kenshi64
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Hi So the reaction is below:
Sodium thiosulfate + HCl = Sulfur + NaCl+ Water+ SO2

So if I wanted to say 'Increasing the conc. of Sodium thiosulfate has shifted the equilibrium to the left (reactants) and thus the system works to break down excess reactants and create more product by Chatlier's law' Would this be factually right?

I'm wondering because the example equation on Wikipedia consists of all gases. Thanks in advance! Cheers! :D
 
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Amount of solid doesn't matter (that is, putting more solid into the system will no shift the equilibrium), but changing concentrations has similar effect to changing pressure.
 
Borek said:
Amount of solid doesn't matter (that is, putting more solid into the system will no shift the equilibrium), but changing concentrations has similar effect to changing pressure.

Sorry, before I go ahead, Is the reaction reversible? I seem to have made a stupid assumption that I can talk about the equilibrium shifting to remove excess reactants when it mayn't be a reversible reaction. How do I know if it is one? THanks Borek
 
To some extent every reaction is reversible. In this particular case reverse reaction is what is used to produce thiosulfates (although it is done in alkaline solutions).
 
Oh god, alas, another experiment down the drain.. Thank you!
 
Uh, with the sulphur precipitating out as a colloid, the reaction is some-what reversible. Starting with lumps of sulphur is a different matter. You'd probably need an ultrasonic bath to mobilise the surface reaction...
 
Nik_2213 said:
Uh, with the sulphur precipitating out as a colloid, the reaction is some-what reversible. Starting with lumps of sulphur is a different matter. You'd probably need an ultrasonic bath to mobilise the surface reaction...

I appreciate that!, But unfortunately I'm just a 12th grader and I don't have that kind of stuff.
 

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