Question

A chemist is studying the following reaction: NO + NO2 ⇌ N2O3. She places a mixture of NO and NO2 in a sealed container and measures how long it takes to achieve equilibrium. She then devises a system of removing all the N2O3 that is produced in this reaction. What effect will this have?

Answer 1

The reaction will continue in the forward direction until all the NO or all the NO₂ is used up.

Step-by-step explanation:

• Le Châtelier's principle states that when there is an dynamic equilibrium, and this equilibrium is disturbed by an external factor, the equilibrium will be shifted in the direction that can cancel the effect of the external factor to reattain the equilibrium.

• So, according to Le Chatelier's principle, removing the product (N₂O₃) from the system means decreasing the concentration of the products; thus, the reaction will proceed forward to produce more product to minimize the stress of removing N₂O₃ from the system.

• So, the reaction will continue in the forward direction until all the NO or all the NO₂ is used up.