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Consider this chemical system which is at equilibrium - HSC - SSCE Chemistry - Question 24 - 2013 - Paper 1
Question 24
Consider this chemical system which is at equilibrium. X(g) + Y(g) ⇌ Z(g) + heat (a) Explain the effect of decreasing the volume of the reaction vessel. (b) Expla... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Consider this chemical system which is at equilibrium - HSC - SSCE Chemistry - Question 24 - 2013 - Paper 1
Step 1
Explain the effect of decreasing the volume of the reaction vessel.
Answer
Decreasing the volume of the reaction vessel will increase the pressure within the system. According to Le Chatelier's principle, the equilibrium will shift in the direction that reduces the pressure. In this case, the reaction will shift to the right side (toward the formation of Z) since there are fewer moles of gas on that side of the equation.
Step 2
Explain the effect of adding a catalyst to this equilibrium mixture.
Answer
Adding a catalyst to the equilibrium mixture will have no visible effect on the position of the equilibrium. However, it will increase the rate at which equilibrium is reached for both the forward and reverse reactions, allowing the system to stabilize more quickly.