6 Chemical equilibria

and le Chatelier’s
principle
●● TEST YOURSELF ON PRIOR KNOWLEDGE 1
1 A reaction in which the reactants change into the products but the
products can change back into the reactants.
2 a) Sulfur dioxide and oxygen
Sulfur trioxide
b) Reversible arrow

●● TEST YOURSELF 2
1 Concentrations of the reactants and products remain constant.
The rates of the forward and reverse reactions are equal.
2 The reactants and products are all in the same state/all gases.
3 Two from: temperature/concentration/pressure.

●● TEST YOURSELF 3
1 If a factor is changed which affects a system in equilibrium, the position
of equilibrium will move in a direction so as to oppose the change.
2 A catalyst increases the rate of the forward and reverse reaction equally.
3 3 moles of gas on the left and 5 moles of gas on the right;
increase in pressure shifts the position of equilibrium to the side with a
smaller gas volume;
position of equilibrium moves from right to left;
1
yield of hydrogen decreases.
4 a) Forward reaction is endothermic;
increasing temperature shifts the position of equilibrium in the
direction of the endothermic reaction to absorb the heat;
position of equilibrium moves from left to right;
concentration of NO2 increases.
 b) 1 mole of gas on the left and 2 moles of gas on the right;
increase in pressure shifts the position of equilibrium to the side with
a smaller gas volume;
position of equilibrium moves from right to left;
concentration of NO2 decreases.
5 a) Compromise between rate of reaction and yield of product;
lower yield (as forward reaction is exothermic) but higher rate of
reaction.
1
b) 1 2 moles of gas on the left and 1 mole of gas on the right;
increase in pressure shifts the position of equilibrium to the side with
a smaller gas volume;
position of equilibrium moves from left to right;
yield of SO3 increases.

●● TEST YOURSELF 4
Chemical equilibria and le Chatelier’s principle

1 a) C2H4(g) + H2O(g)  C2H5OH(g)

Stare symbols not required
b) concentrated phosphoric acid
c) high pressure and moderate temperature
d) hydration
2 a) methanol
b) 3 moles of gas on the left and 1 mol of gas on the right;
increase in pressure shifts the position of equilibrium to the side with
a smaller gas volume;
position of equilibrium moves from left to right;
yield of CH3OH increases.
c) Compromise between rate of reaction and yield of product;
lower yield (as forward reaction is exothermic) but higher rate of
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reaction.
3 Equal number of moles of gas on each side of the equilibrium.

2 ●● Practice questions
1 B (1)
2 a) C and D (1)
b) C and D (1)
c) none (1)
3 a) Concentrations of the reactants and products remain constant (1)

Practice questions
The rates of the forward and reverse reactions are equal (1)
b) i) endothermic; (1)
as position of equilibrium moves from left to right, when
temperature is increased, to absorb the heat. (1)
ii) Energy of the particles increases; (1)
more collisions with energy greater than or equal to the
activation energy (1)
c) 1 mole of gas on the left and 2 moles of gas on the right; (1)
a decrease in pressure shifts the position of equilibrium to the
side with a larger gas volume; (1)
position of equilibrium moves from left to right. (1)
4 a) 3 moles of gas on the left and 2 moles of gas on the right; (1)
an increase in pressure shifts the position of equilibrium to the
side with a smaller gas volume (1)
position of equilibrium moves from left to right, therefore the
NO2 increases. (1)
b) Forward reaction is exothermic; (1)
decrease in temperature shifts the position of equilibrium in the
direction of the exothermic reaction; (1)
position of equilibrium moves from left to right and so more
brown NO2. (1)
5 a) 2 moles of gas on the left and 4 moles of gas on the right; (1)
an increase in pressure shifts the position of equilibrium to the
side with a smaller gas volume; (1)
position of equilibrium moves from right to left and yield of H2
decreases. (1)
b) The position of equilibrium moves from left to right to remove
the excess hydrogen; (1)
the equilibrium yield of CH3OH increases. (1)
6 a) 9 moles of gas on the left and 10 moles of gas on the right; (1)
an increase in pressure shifts the position of equilibrium to the
side with a smaller gas volume; (1) 3

position of equilibrium moves from right to left. (1)

b) Forward reaction is exothermic; (1)
increase in temperature shifts the position of equilibrium in the
direction of the endothermic reaction; (1)
position of equilibrium moves from right to left. (1)
c) A catalyst has no effect on the position of equilibrium. (1)
d) The reaction is exothermic (1)
 7 a) vanadium(V) oxide/ V2O5 (1)
b) Increases the rate of the reaction/equilibrium attained more
rapidly. (1)
c) i) reaction is exothermic; (1)
a lower temperature shifts the position of equilibrium in the
direction of the exothermic reaction (1)
position of equilibrium moves from left to right/higher yield
of SO3 (1)
ii) Compromise between rate of reaction and yield of product; (1)
lower yield (as forward reaction is exothermic) but higher
rate of reaction. (1)
1
d) i) 12 moles of gas on the left and 1 mole of gas on the right; (1)
an increase in pressure shifts the position of equilibrium to
the side with a smaller gas volume; (1)
Chemical equilibria and le Chatelier’s principle

position of equilibrium moves from left to right/yield of

SO3 increases. (1)
ii) Pressure is expensive (1)
due to the cost of the pumps to apply it and the
equipment and valves needed to withstand it. (1) (2)
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