Question

Consider the following reaction at equilibrium: ₂CO₂ (g) ⇌ 2CO (g) + O₂ (g). ΔH° = -514 kJ. Le Chatelier's principle predicts that removing O₂(g) from the reaction container will ________?

1) shift the equilibrium to the left
2) shift the equilibrium to the right
3) have no effect on the equilibrium
4) increase the concentration of CO₂

Answer 1

According to Le Chatelier's principle, removing O₂(g) from the reaction container will shift the equilibrium to the right.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to Le Chatelier's principle, if pressure is increased, then the equilibrium shifts to the side with the fewer number of moles of gas. This particular reaction shows a total of 4 mol of gas as reactants and 2 mol of gas as products, so the reaction shifts toward the products side.