(This part of assignment is prepared by Minahil shafiq)

Applications of le chatelier’s principle

Applications of Le Chatelier’s principle in chemical equilibria

HABER PROCESS

In Haber process, the ammonia is synthesized by combining pure nitrogen and hydrogen gases in 1:3
ratio in presence of finely powdered iron catalyst and molybdenum promoter at around 450°C and at
about 250 atm. Of pressure.

Haber process is exothermic and accompanied by decrease in volume.

The Le Chatelier’s principle helps in choosing these conditions to improve the yields of
ammonia as explained as below.

Effect of concentration:

According to law of mass action, increase in concentration of one of the reactant will shift the
equilibrium towards right. Here increase in concentration of hydrogen ( as more mole of it are
used) in preference to nitrogen has more effect.

Effect of pressure: In the forward reaction (synthesis of ammonia), the number of moles of
gaseous components is decreasing.

i.e., Δn = (2) – (1+3) = -2

Hence the synthesis of ammonia is favoured by increasing the pressure of the system.
Industrially, 100 – 250 atm. Of pressure is employed.

Effect of temperature: Since the forward reaction is exothermic, the increase in temperature
favours the backward reaction i.e., the dissociation of ammonia. That means according to le
Chatelier’s principle, the synthesis of ammonia is favoured at lower temperatures. However the
reaction will be too slow at lower temperatures (a kinetic restriction). Hence this reaction is
carried out at optimal temperatures i.e., at about 450 – 550 °C to overcome the kinetic barrier.

Removal of ammonia: The forward reaction can also be favoured by removing ammonia from
the system from time to time by liquefying it.

Catalyst: To increase the speed of the reaction, finely powdered or porous iron is used as
catalyst. Its efficiency can be improved by adding molybdenum or oxides of potassium and
aluminium.

CONTACT PROCESS

In the contact process, sulfuric acid, the king of chemicals, is manufactured on large scale. The
major steps involved in the process are:

The crucial step is the oxidation of sulfur dioxide, SO2 to sulfur trioxide, SO3. It is a reversible
reaction. At normal conditions, the amount of sulfur trioxide formed is very small. To improve
the yield of sulfur trioxide, the reaction is carried out at around 450°C and 2 atm pressure in
presence of V2O5 or Pt, which acts as a catalysts.

These conditions are chosen by applying Le Chatelier’s principle as explained below.

Effect of concentration:

According to law of mass action, increase in concentration of reactants shifts the equilibrium
towards right. Here increase in concentration of sulfur dioxide will have more effect.
Effect of pressure: In the forward reaction (formation of sulfur trioxide), the number of moles
of gaseous components is decreasing.

i.e., Δn = (2) – (2+1) = -1

Hence the forward reaction is favoured by increasing the pressure of the system. However, at
high pressures, the iron towers used in the contact process are corroded. Hence the process is
carried out at optimal pressures like 2 atm.

Effect of temperature: Since the forward reaction is exothermic, at higher temperatures the
backward reaction i.e., the dissociation of sulfur dioxide is more favoured. However the reaction
will be too slow at lower temperatures. Hence this reaction is carried out at optimal temperatures
i.e., around 450 °C.

Catalyst: To increase the speed of the reaction, V2O5 or Pt are used as catalysts.

Manufacturing of ozone

Ozone is manufactured by passing silent electric discharge through pure oxygen.

Here, ∆H=+288.56kJ/mol

From this reaction, it is clear that the reaction is endothermic and accompanied by decrease in
volume.

Effect of concentration:

By the law of mass action, increase in concentration of one of the reactants will shift equilibrium
towards right. And here increase in concentration of oxygen increases the rate of forward
reaction.

Effect of pressure:

Above reaction Indicate that formation of ozone takes place with decrease in volume. Hence
increase in pressure will favour forward reaction.

Effect of temperature:
The reaction is endothermic, so increasing the temperature will favour forward reaction. Due to
increase in temperature heat will be absorbed by the reaction.

Application of Le Chatelier’s principle to manufacture nitric oxide:

The reaction is

Here ∆H=+180.7kJ/mol

From this reaction it is clear that, the reaction is endothermic and accompanied by no in change
in volume.

Effect of concentration:

By the law of mass action, increase in concentration of one of the reactant will shift the
equilibrium toward right. And here increase in concentration of nitrogen or oxygen increases the
rate of forward reaction.

Effect of pressure:

Above reaction Indicate that formation of nitric oxide takes place with no change in volume.
Hence pressure has no effect on the equilibrium.

Effect of temperature:

The reaction is endothermic, so increasing the temperature will favour forward reaction. Due to
increase in temperature heat will be absorbed by the reaction.

Application of Le Chatelier's principle to manufacture nitrogen dioxide:

The reaction is
Here ∆H=-116.4/mol

From this reaction it is clear that, the reaction is exothermic and accompanied by decrease in
volume.

Effect of concentration:

By the law of mass action, increase in concentration of one of the reactant will shift the
equilibrium towards right. And here increase in concentration of nitrogen or oxygen increases the
rate of forward reaction. Due to the use of more number of moles , the increase in concentration
of nitrogen oxide has a prominent effect.

Effect of pressure:

Above equation indicates the formation of nitrogen dioxide takes place with decrease in volume.
Hence increase in pressure favour forward reaction.

Effect of temperature:

The reaction is exothermic, so decreasing the temperature will favour forward reaction. Due to
the decrease in temperature, heat will be removed from the reaction.

Application of Le Chatelier’s principle to dissociation of phosphorus pentachloride:

The reaction is

Here, ∆H=+62.8kJ/mol

From this reaction it is clear that the reaction is endothermic and accompanied by increase in
volume.

Effect of concentration:
By the law of mass action, increase in concentration of one of the reactant will shift equilibrium
towards right. And here increase in concentration of phosphorus pentachloride increases the rate
of forward reaction.

Effect of pressure:

Above reaction indicates that formation of phosphorus trichloride takes place with increase in
volume. Hence decrease in pressure favours forward reaction.

Effect of temperature:

The reaction is endothermic, so increase in temperature will favor forward reaction. Due to the
increase in temperature heat will be absorbed by the reaction.

Application of Le Chatelier's principle to physical equilibria:

Melting of ice:

The reaction is

Here, ∆H=+6.01kJ/mol

From this equation, it is clear that the reaction is endothermic and accompanied by decrease in
volume.

Effect of pressure:

Above reaction indicate that formation of liquid water takes place with decrease in volume.
Hence increase in pressure favour forward reaction.

Effect of temperature:

The reaction is endothermic, so increasing the temperature will favor forward reaction. Due to
the increase in temperature heat will be absorbed by the reaction.

Boiling of water:
The reaction is

Here, ∆H=40.84 kJ/mol

From this reaction, it is clear that the reaction is endothermic and accompanied by increase in
volume.

Effect of pressure:

Above reaction Indicate that the formation of water vapours takes place with increase in volume.
Hence increase in pressure will favor forward reaction. This principle is used in pressure
cookers.

Effect of temperature:

The reaction is endothermic, so increasing the temperature will favor forward reaction. Due to
the increase in temperature, heat will be absorbed by the reaction.