I don't understand why pressure changes the position of equilibrium in a reaction?

When thinking of pressure I like to think of two boxes joined together with the reactants in one and products in the other. When you make the boxes smaller (increase the pressure) the items in the box with more will start to be pushed into the box with less to reduce the amount of space in the one box. This is similar to a reaction!

N2(g) + 3H2(g) <-> 2NH3(g)(would be best written on the whiteboard for super/subscripts)

As we increase the pressure we will see the reactants 'move to the box of products' because there are more molecules on the side of reactants. They move to make more space by becoming products!

Now think of 2NO2(g) <-> N2O4 (g) what do you think would happen if we DECREASE the pressure?

HW
Answered by Heather W. Chemistry tutor

3197 Views

See similar Chemistry GCSE tutors

Related Chemistry GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Describe how ethanol is produced from ethene.


how is steel stronger than iron?


Sodium and sodium chloride can both conduct of electricity under cetain conditions. Describe and explain the method of conduction for each species. (3)


CO(g) + 2H2(g) ⇌ CH3OH(g). A pressure of 100 atmospheres is used instead of atmospheric pressure. The higher pressure gives a greater yield of methanol and an increased rate of reaction. Explain why.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning