Question

A system at equilibrium is placed under stress by adding more reactant. If this reaction has a small equilibrium constant (Keq), how will the addition of this stress affect the equilibrium of this system.

Question options:

The equilibrium will shift to produce more reactant.

The equilibrium will shift to produce more product.

There is no way to predict how the stress will affect this system without more information.

The reaction will generate more heat.

Answer 1

The answer is the equilibrium will shift to produce more product. In accordance to Le Chatelier's principle, Q<Keq, this means the equilibrium shifts so that Q increases to equal Keq again, going against the disturbance. The equilibrium frequently tries to undo the given disturbance. To summarize, Since Q<Keq after the stress, Q↑ to answer the stress by creating more products.