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If an increase in pressure causes a reaction to shift to the side with the less moles OF GAS, why doesn't it affect the Keq?

User Ash Blue
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Final answer:

According to Le Chatelier's principle, an increase in pressure will cause an equilibrium involving gases to shift toward the side with fewer moles of gas. However, this pressure change does not affect the equilibrium constant (Keq), which only changes with temperature.

Step-by-step explanation:

When considering how an equilibrium reacts to a change in pressure, it's important to understand Le Chatelier's principle. If an increase in pressure is applied to a reaction involving gases, the equilibrium will shift to favor the side with fewer moles of gas to minimize the change induced by increased pressure. However, this shift does not affect the equilibrium constant (Keq), because Keq is dependent only on temperature for a given reaction. Changes in pressure alter the position of the equilibrium but do not impact the intrinsic ratio of products to reactants at equilibrium given by Keq.

User Trong Lam Phan
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