In this lesson you will learn about how chemical systems at equilibrium respond to stresses by applying Le Châtelier’s Principle and predict the direction to which an equilibrium shifts when an stress is applied or when the reaction quotient is determined.
By the end of this students should be able to:
- explain Le Châtelier’s Principle and how it applies to changes to a chemical reaction at equilibrium.
- predict how various experimental factors such as volume, pressure, concentration and pressure would affect a chemical system at equilibrium.
- conduct an inquiry to test those predictions.
- determine the Reaction Quotient (Q) and predict if a chemical system is at equilibrium and the direction it would shift to attain equilibrium.
First, let’s examine Le Châtelier’s Principle in the video lesson below:
In order to gain practice predicting shifts in a chemical system at equilibrium, please answer the questions in the worksheet below. Next, check your answers against the answer key attached at the end of the worksheet.
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Open in new tab Below is an introduction to the way chemist determine if a reversible reaction is or is not at equilibrium, using the Reaction Quotient Q. By comparing the Reaction Quotient Q to K, chemists are able to determine the direction in which a reversible reaction may proceed to attain equilibrium.