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Assume that the water side product is continuously removed to drive the reaction towards products. What is the effect of continuously removing the water side product on the reaction?

1) The reaction will proceed in the forward direction
2) The reaction will proceed in the reverse direction
3) The reaction rate will increase
4) The reaction rate will decrease

User Jayavel
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

Continuously removing water from a reversible chemical reaction will drive the reaction in the forward direction due to LeChatelier's principle, as the system seeks to re-establish equilibrium by favoring the production of the removed substance.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a side product such as water is continuously removed from a chemical reaction, the system will experience a temporary net reaction in the forward direction to re-establish equilibrium, a concept known as LeChatelier's principle. This means that by removing a product like water, you decrease the rate of the reverse reaction, which causes the equilibrium to shift towards the right or product side. Consequently, the forward reaction is favored, and the production of the desired products is increased.

In summary, if water is continuously removed, the reaction will proceed in the forward direction (Option 1), which is also described as the equilibrium shifting towards the product side.

User Martin Spa
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