Effect of CATALYST to the equilibrium reaction

1 of 39

Boardworks Ltd 2007

Catalysts
What does a catalyst do?

A catalyst speeds up or slows down a reaction but is not changed by the reaction.
catalyst:

is substance that changes the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed or changed significantly substances that slow reactions

inhibitors: Catalysts

are often used in industry to make reactions go faster.

FACTORS AFFECTING THE POSITION OF EQUILIBRIUM

CATALYSTS Catalysts work by providing an alternative reaction pathway involving a lower activation energy.
MAXWELL-BOLTZMANN DISTRIBUTION MAXWELL-BOLTZMANN DISTRIBUTION OF MOLECULAR ENERGY OF MOLECULAR ENERGY

NUMBER OF MOLECUES WITH A PARTICULAR ENERGY

EXTRA MOLECULES WITH SUFFICIENT ENERGY TO OVERCOME THE ENERGY BARRIER

MOLECULAR ENERGY

Ea

CATALYSTS

Adding a catalyst DOES NOT AFFECT THE POSITION OF EQUILIBRIUM. However, it does increase the rate of attainment of equilibrium. This is especially important in reversible, exothermic industrial reactions such as the Haber or Contact Processes where economic factors are paramount.

An inhibitor is a substance that interferes with the action of a catalyst. Antioxidants and antimicrobials used in drying fruits and preserving fruit juices slow the action of microbes and limit contact with air.

Whenever a change is made to a reversible reaction in dynamic equilibrium, the equilibrium will shift to try and oppose the change.

Condition Temperature

Effect Increasing the temperature shifts the equilibrium in the direction that takes in heat. Increasing the concentration of a substance shifts the equilibrium in the direction that produces less of that substance. Increasing the pressure shifts the equilibrium in the direction that produces less gas.

Concentration

Pressure