Question

Predict which of the following would shift the equilibrium to the right in the following reaction. C2H2 + H2O Two arrows stacked on top of each other. The top arrow points to the right. The bottom arrow points to the left. CH3CHO removing H2O (g) from the system adding CH3CHO (g) to the system removing C2H2 (g) from the system adding H2O (g) to the system

Answer 1

Adding H2O to the system.

(Got this right on my test!)

Answer 2

Chemical reaction

C2H2(g) + H2O(g) ⇄ CH2CHO(g)

a) Removing H2O(g) from the system

Remember that Le Chatelier principle states that when an equilibrium is disturbed the system will try to counteract to restate the equilibrim.

If you remove H2O(g) then the equilibrium will be displaced to the left, trying to produce more H2O(g), which means to reduce CH3CHO(g) and increasing the C2H2(g).

b) Adding CH3CHO(g)

To counteract the addition of CH3CHO(g) the system will try to regain equilibrium by producing more reactants: C2H2(g) and H2O(g)

c) Removing C2H2(g)

The system will again displace to the left, that is CH3CHO(g) will reduce and H2O(g) will increase.

d) Adding H2O(g)

The systmen will displace to the right reducing C2H2(g) and increasing CH3CHO(g).