Highschool chemistry question on Le Chatlier's Principle

In summary, the concept being discussed is Le Chatelier's principle, which states that changing the concentration of a reactant or product in a chemical reaction will cause the equilibrium to shift in the direction that minimizes the change. In this specific example, adding more A to the reaction will cause the equilibrium to shift towards the products (C), resulting in an increase in the concentration of A and a decrease in the concentration of C. The opposite would be true if B or C were added instead. It can be helpful to formulate the equilibrium equations and consider conservation of mass to better understand the concept.
  • #1
j3llzang
9
0

Homework Statement


I just have a concept question on LCP.
in reaction: A(aq) + B(aq) <-> C(aq)
A is added and rxn is left to reach a new equilibrium.
Once @ new eqm, is [A] higher than before? and obviously [C] is lower, right?
 
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  • #2
j3llzang said:

Homework Statement


I just have a concept question on LCP.
in reaction: A(aq) + B(aq) <-> C(aq)
A is added and rxn is left to reach a new equilibrium.
Once @ new eqm, is [A] higher than before? and obviously [C] is lower, right?

I hope you will get to a point where the opposite is obvious.

"Changing the concentration of an ingredient will shift the equilibrium to the side that would reduce that change in concentration. The chemical system will attempt to partially oppose the change affected to the original state of equilibrium."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Chatelier's_principle

It will probably help if you can formulate the equations, equilibrium equations + conservation of mass and see what they tell you.
 

1. What is Le Chatlier's Principle?

Le Chatlier's Principle is a fundamental concept in chemistry that states that if a system in equilibrium is subjected to a change, the system will shift to counteract the change and reach a new equilibrium state.

2. How does Le Chatlier's Principle apply to high school chemistry?

In high school chemistry, Le Chatlier's Principle is often used to explain how changes in concentration, pressure, and temperature can affect the equilibrium position of a chemical reaction. It is also commonly used to predict the direction of a reaction and the resulting products.

3. What are some real-life examples of Le Chatlier's Principle?

One example of Le Chatlier's Principle in action is the Haber-Bosch process, which is used to produce ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen. Increasing the pressure in the reaction vessel, according to Le Chatlier's Principle, will shift the equilibrium towards the side with fewer moles of gas, in this case, the products.

Another example is the dissolution of carbon dioxide in water, which forms carbonic acid. If the concentration of carbon dioxide increases, Le Chatlier's Principle predicts that the equilibrium will shift towards the reactants, resulting in more carbon dioxide being dissolved in the water.

4. How can Le Chatlier's Principle be manipulated to favor the desired outcome of a reaction?

Le Chatlier's Principle can be manipulated by changing the conditions of the reaction, such as the concentration of reactants, pressure, or temperature. For example, if a reaction produces more products at higher temperatures, increasing the temperature will shift the equilibrium towards the products.

5. What are some common misconceptions about Le Chatlier's Principle?

One common misconception about Le Chatlier's Principle is that it only applies to reversible reactions. In reality, it can also be applied to irreversible reactions, where the reaction will still shift to counteract changes in the conditions.

Another misconception is that Le Chatlier's Principle only applies to chemical reactions. In fact, it can also be applied to physical processes, such as changes in solubility or melting point, as long as there is an equilibrium involved.

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