Question

What is the effect of adding a catalyst on the concentrations of N₂, O₂, and NO at equilibrium in the nitrogen and oxygen reaction?

a) Concentration of N₂ increases, O₂ decreases, NO remains unchanged.
b) Concentration of N₂ decreases, O₂ increases, NO remains unchanged.
c) Concentrations of N₂, O₂, and NO all increase.
d) Concentrations of N₂, O₂, and NO all decrease.

Answer 1

Adding a catalyst to the equilibrium reaction of N₂ and O₂ to form NO does not change the concentrations of the reactants or the product; it simply increases the rate at which equilibrium is reached.

Step-by-step explanation:

The effect of adding a catalyst to the reaction between nitrogen (N₂) and oxygen (O₂) to form nitrogen monoxide (NO) does not alter the concentrations of the reactants (N₂ and O₂) or the product (NO) at equilibrium.

Catalysts affect the rate at which equilibrium is achieved but do not change the position of equilibrium itself. Therefore, the correct answer to what happens to the concentrations of N₂, O₂, and NO at equilibrium if a catalyst is added is that their concentrations will remain unchanged.