Name: ___________________________________
Le Châtelier’s Principle Particulate View
Background
You work for a chemical company where the following exothermic chemical reaction is
taking place: N2(g) + 3H2(g) 2NH3(g), H=–92 kJ/mol. The products of the reaction
will eventually be cooled into a liquid and used in a cleaning product.
Objective
In the previous lesson, your boss asked your team to do a short presentation on the
contents of the reaction vessel at four different times during the reaction.
You should have found that the system is at equilibrium when there are 2 particles of N2,
4 particles of H2, and 4 particles of NH3, which makes the Kc value 0.125. (Use these
concentrations as your starting point for all the diagrams in this activity before you make
the changes described for each diagram, below.)
Now that you team has presented, your boss would like you to explore the reaction in
more detail. She asked your group to explain what will happen if any of the following
conditions are changed once the reaction reaches equilibrium:
Diagram 1: Adding H2 to the reaction vessel
Diagram 2: Removing H2 from the reaction vessel
Diagram 3: Adding NH3 to the reaction vessel
Diagram 4: Removing NH3 from the reaction vessel
Diagram 5: Doubling the size of the reaction vessel
Diagram 6: Halving the size of the reaction vessel
Diagram 7: Increasing the temperature of the reaction vessel
Diagram 8: Decreasing the temperature of the reaction vessel
Please work out your particulate-level diagrams on your whiteboards and once your group
has agreed on a consensus model for each diagram, copy them into the appropriate
spaces below.
For each condition, she has asked to your team to complete the following:
1) Make a diagram representing the phenomena
2) Determine whether Q is greater than, less than, or equal to Kc
3) Determine in what direction the reaction will shift to reestablish equilibrium
4) Determine whether the value of Kc will increase, decrease, or stay the same
American Association of Chemistry Teachers |1-557 1
Diagram 1: Adding H2 to the reaction vessel
Is Q greater than, equal to, or less than
Kc? Explain.
In what direction will the reaction shift to
reestablish equilibrium?
Will the value of Kc increase, decrease, or
stay the same?
Explanation of Phenomena:
Diagram 2: Removing H2 from the reaction vessel
Is Q greater than, equal to, or less than
Kc? Explain.
What direction will the reaction go to
reestablish equilibrium?
Will the value of Kc increase, decrease, or
stay the same?
Explanation of Phenomena:
American Association of Chemistry Teachers |1-557 2
Diagram 3: Adding NH3 to the reaction vessel
Is Q greater than, equal to, or less than
Kc? Explain.
What direction will the reaction go to
reestablish equilibrium?
Will the value of Kc increase, decrease, or
stay the same?
Explanation of Phenomena:
Diagram 4: Removing NH3 from the reaction vessel
Is Q greater than, equal to, or less than
Kc? Explain.
What direction will the reaction go to
reestablish equilibrium?
Will the value of Kc increase, decrease, or
stay the same?
Explanation of Phenomena:
American Association of Chemistry Teachers |1-557 3
Diagram 5: Doubling the size of the reaction vessel
Is Q greater than, equal to, or less than
Kc? Explain.
What direction will the reaction go to
reestablish equilibrium?
Will the value of Kc increase, decrease, or
stay the same?
Explanation of Phenomena:
Diagram 6: Halving the size of the reaction vessel
Is Q greater than, equal to, or less than
Kc? Explain.
What direction will the reaction go to
reestablish equilibrium?
Will the value of Kc increase, decrease, or
stay the same?
Explanation of Phenomena:
American Association of Chemistry Teachers |1-557 4
Diagram 7: Increasing the temperature of the reaction vessel
Is Q greater than, equal to, or less than
Kc? Explain.
What direction will the reaction go to
reestablish equilibrium?
Will the value of Kc increase, decrease, or
stay the same?
Explanation of Phenomena:
Diagram 8: Decreasing the temperature of the reaction vessel
Is Q greater than, equal to, or less than
Kc? Explain.
What direction will the reaction go to
reestablish equilibrium?
Will the value of Kc increase, decrease, or
stay the same?
Explanation of Phenomena:
American Association of Chemistry Teachers |1-557 5
