Le Chatelier's Principle

Flashcards about Le Chatelier's Principle

Le Chatelier's Principle

A principle stating that if a system at equilibrium is disturbed by a change in environment, it is relieved by a shift.

Endothermic

Heat is on the left side and absorbs heat.

Exothermic

Heat is on the right side and releases heat.

Catalyst

Increases the speed of reaction, but doesn't affect K.

Inhibitor

Slows down the reaction, but doesn't affect K.

Temperature and K

Only temperature change affects K.

Endothermic and Temperature

Increase in temperature increases K; decrease in temperature decreases K.

Exothermic and Temperature

Increase in temperature decreases K; decrease in temperature increases K.

Pressure

Only affects gases and shifts K if there are unequal moles of gas.

Pressure Increase

Shift to the side with less moles.

Pressure Decrease

Shift to more moles.

Adding Reactants

Right Shift

Taking Reactant

Left Shift

Adding Products

Left Shift

Taking Product

Right Shift

Endothermic with Temperature Increase

Right Shift

Endothermic with Temperature Decrease

Left Shift

Exothermic with Temperature Increase

Left Shift

Exothermic with Temperature Decrease

Right Shift

Pressure

Only affects gases, and only shifts when coefficients of gases unequal.

Solids

Do not affect K and are not affected by pressure.

Aqueous Solutions

Are not affected by pressure changes.

Shift Direction

The side you're making more stuff on

Special Shortcut

When 10^x is -5 or lower you can ignore x.