Question

(07.07 MC)

A chemical equilibrium between gaseous reactants and products is shown.

N2(g) + 3H2(g) ⇌ 2NH3(g)

How will the reaction be affected if the pressure on the system is decreased?

Group of answer choices

It will shift toward the reactant side as there is lower pressure on the reactant side.

It will shift toward the product side as there is higher pressure on the product side.

It will shift toward the reactant side as there are a greater number of moles of gas on the reactant side.

It will shift toward the product side as there are a fewer number of moles of gas on the product side.

Answer 1

It will shift toward the reactant side as there is lower pressure on the reactant side.

Step-by-step explanation:

There are more moles of gaseous reactants (4) than moles of gaseous products (2). Thus, any change in pressure will affect the reactants side more than the products side. Decreasing pressure decreases the pressure of the reactant side more than that of the product side. Thus, the reaction will shift to the reactants side to reestablish a pressure equilibrium.