Define and give an example of Le Chatalier's Principle of Chemical Equilibrium.

For any change that occurs in a chemical system, the equilibrium of that system will shift in order to counteract the change being imposed on that system. For example, if the temperature is increased for a reaction, and the forward reaction is endothermic, with an endothermic reverse reaction; the system will shift in order to dissipate the excess heat energy. Since an endothermic reaction takes in heat energy from the surroundings, this reaction will be favoured in order to use up the excess heat energy. Hence the shift in equilibrium will favour the reverse reaction. 

BC

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

Why is the Mg2+ ion smaller in radius than the Na+ ion?


What is a transition metal?


Providing reasoning, what is the trend in the atomic radius of row 3 elements across the periodic table?


In organic chemistry, how can functional groups be easily identified and how can I memorise organic mechanisms?