Answers to Chemical Equilibria 1

1. a) equilibrium moves to right

to replace lost water
b) equilibrium moves to right
to remove added oxygen
c) pressure is increased
so equilibrium moves to right
in direction of fewer moles
to reduce pressure
d) equilibrium moves to left
in endothermic direction
to reduce temperature
e) equilibrium does not move
as forward and reverse reactions are getting faster
by the same amount

2. a) low temperature, as this will favour the exothermic direction

which is the forward direction
high pressure, as this will favour the direction decreasing the gas moles
which is the forward direction
b) high temperature, as this will favour the endothermic direction
which is the forward direction
low pressure, as this will favour the direction increasing the gas moles
which is the forward direction
c) low temperature, as this will favour the exothermic direction
which is the forward direction
any pressure, as there is no change un the number of gas moles
d) any temperature, as there is no exothermic or endothermic direction
any pressure, as there is no change in the number of moles

3. a) yield is poor at high temperatures

b) reaction is slow at low temperatures
c) expensive equipment is needed for high pressures
d) yield is poor at low pressures
reaction is slow at low pressures
e) catalyst increases the rate of the reaction
and reduces costs be allowing a lower temperature to be used

4. a) A ‘reversible reaction’ is one which can be made to take place in either

direction; reactants can be converted to products and products can be
converted to reactants.
b) A state of ‘equilibriun would be reached. The amount of each of the
substances present in the mixture would stay constant.
5. a) - An equilibrium state can only be reached in closed system; one in which
matter cannot enter or leave.
- The equilibrium state can be reached from either direction, that is, in
relation to a chemical equation, from either the reactants or products.
- Equilibrium is a dynamic state. Although there are no changes in
concentration of substances in the mixture, the reactions are still
continuing in both directions but at the same rate.
- An equilibrium system, although stable under a particular set of
conditions, is sensitive to alteration in those conditions

b) The amount of potassium iodide dissolved would stay the same, as the
solution is saturated at that temperature.

c) The solution would become radioactive. The observation indicate that the
equilibrium state is dynamic, since the increase in radioactivity of the
solution implies that some of the added labelled potassium iodide has
dissolved, but since the solution is already saturated, an equal amount of
potassium iodide must have crystallized, indicating that changes in both
ways are continuing.

6. a) The amount of A,B, C and D will be constant.

b) They will be the same.
c) They will be numerically equal, but of opposite sign, that is, the reaction
in one direction will be exothermic and in the other direction endothermic.
d) The amount of each substance present at equilibrium would be the same
(therefore no effect on the position of equilibrium) but equilibrium would
be reach more quickly.

7. a) 1) less products- increased pressure favours the formation of fewer

molecules, therefore equilibrium shifts to the left.
2) less product as 1)
3) no change- same number of molecules on both sides of the
equation.
4) more products- increased pressure favors the formation of fewer
molecules, therefore equilibrium shift to the right.

b) 1) fewer product molecules,

2) more product molecules,
3) very little difference in amounts of products,
4) more product molecules

8. a) 1) increased temperature results in less product.

2) the reaction is exothermic (∆H is negative).

b) 1) increased pressure favours the formation of product.

2) there is a reduction in the number of gas molecules present(4→2).
c) Le Chatelier concluded that when a change is made to a system at
equilibrium, the reaction tries to oppose the change being made.
Thus in (a) temperature increased, therefore the endothermic change is
favoured as this absorbs heat, therefore reaction moves in favour of the
reactants.
In (b) increased pressure will be opposed by a decrease in the number of
molecules present, this is achieved by the formation of more product.

d) There are optimum conditions.

A higher pressure will be more expensive-greater running cost etc.
A lower pressure will give a lower yield.
A higher temperature will give a lower yield.
A lower temperature will give a better yield but a slower rate.