Le Chatelier's

Principle
Lesson 2

Le Chateliers Principle
If a system in equilibrium is subjected to a change processes occur that
oppose the imposed change and the system shifts to reach a new state of
equilibrium.

reactants
products

Chemists can use this principle to shift the reaction so that there are more
Products or Reactants.

Le Chateliers Principle
If a system in equilibrium is subjected to a change processes occur that
oppose the imposed change and the system shifts to reach a new state of
equilibrium.

reactants
products

Chemists can use this principle to shift the reaction so that there are more
Products or Reactants.

Le Chateliers Principle
If a system in equilibrium is subjected to a change processes occur that
oppose the imposed change and the system shifts to reach a new state of
equilibrium.

reactants

products
Chemists can use this principle to shift the reaction so that there are more
products or Reactants.

1.1
Increasing the temperature always shifts a reaction in the
direction that consumes energy.
A + B C + Energy

1.2
Increasing the temperature always shifts a reaction in the
direction that consumes energy.

A + B + Energy C

1.3

Decreasing the temperature always shifts a reaction in the

direction that produces energy.

A + B + Energy C

2.1

Adding a reactant or product shifts the reaction in the opposite

direction.
reaction- shift right
A + B C + Energy

stress- increase [A]

2.2

Adding a reactant or product shifts the reaction in the opposite

direction.
left
A + B C + Energy

stress- increase [C]

2.3
Removing a reactant or product shifts the reaction in the
opposite direction.
reaction- shift left

A + B C + Energy

stress- decrease [A]

2.4
Removing a reactant or product shifts the reaction in the
opposite direction.
reaction- shift right

A + B C + Energy

stress- decrease [C]

3.1

Only changes to (aq) and (g) reactants or products cause the

equilibrium to shift
(s) and (l) do not!
You can change the concentrations of (aq) and (g)
(s) and (l) have constant concentrations

CaCO3(s) + 2H+(aq) + 2Cl-(aq)

Ca2+(aq) + 2Cl-(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)

3.1

Only changes to (aq) and (g) reactants or products cause the

equilibrium to shift
(s) and (l) do not!
You can change the concentrations of (aq) and (g)
(s) and (l) have constant concentrations

CaCO3(s) + 2H+(aq) + 2Cl-(aq)

Ca2+(aq) + 2Cl-(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)

3.1

Only changes to (aq) and (g) reactants or products cause the

equilibrium to shift
(s) and (l) do not!
You can change the concentrations of (aq) and (g)
(s) and (l) have constant concentrations

CaCO3(s) + 2H+(aq) + 2Cl-(aq)

no shift!

Ca2+(aq) + 2Cl-(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)

3.2

Only changes to (aq) and (g) reactants or products cause the

equilibrium to shift
(s) and (l) do not!
You can change the concentrations of (aq) and (g)
(s) and (l) have constant concentrations

CaCO3(s) + 2H+(aq) + 2Cl-(aq)

Ca2+(aq) + 2Cl-(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)

3.2

Only changes to (aq) and (g) reactants or products cause the

equilibrium to shift
(s) and (l) do not!
You can change the concentrations of (aq) and (g)
(s) and (l) have constant concentrations

CaCO3(s) + 2H+(aq) + 2Cl-(aq)

Ca2+(aq) + 2Cl-(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)

shifts to products

3.3

Only changes to (aq) and (g) reactants or products cause the

equilibrium to shift
(s) and (l) do not!
You can change the concentrations of (aq) and (g)
(s) and (l) have constant concentrations

CaCO3(s) + 2H+(aq) + 2Cl-(aq)

Ca2+(aq) + 2Cl-(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)

3.3

Only changes to (aq) and (g) reactants or products cause the

equilibrium to shift
(s) and (l) do not!
You can change the concentrations of (aq) and (g)
(s) and (l) have constant concentrations

CaCO3(s) + 2H+(aq) + 2Cl-(aq)

Ca2+(aq) + 2Cl-(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)

shifts to products

3.4

Only changes to (aq) and (g) reactants or products cause the

equilibrium to shift
(s) and (l) do not!
You can change the concentrations of (aq) and (g)
(s) and (l) have constant concentrations

CaCO3(s) + 2H+(aq) + 2Cl-(aq)

Ca2+(aq) + 2Cl-(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)

3.4

Only changes to (aq) and (g) reactants or products cause the

equilibrium to shift
(s) and (l) do not!
You can change the concentrations of (aq) and (g)
(s) and (l) have constant concentrations

CaCO3(s) + 2H+(aq) + 2Cl-(aq)

shifts to reactants

Ca2+(aq) + 2Cl-(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)

3.5

Only changes to (aq) and (g) reactants or products cause the

equilibrium to shift
(s) and (l) do not!
You can change the concentrations of (aq) and (g)
(s) and (l) have constant concentrations

CaCO3(s) + 2H+(aq) + 2Cl-(aq)

Ca2+(aq) + 2Cl-(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)

3.5

Only changes to (aq) and (g) reactants or products cause the

equilibrium to shift
(s) and (l) do not!
You can change the concentrations of (aq) and (g)
(s) and (l) have constant concentrations

CaCO3(s) + 2H+(aq) + 2Cl-(aq)

shifts to products

Ca2+(aq) + 2Cl-(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)

3.6

Only changes to (aq) and (g) reactants or products cause the

equilibrium to shift
(s) and (l) do not!
You can change the concentrations of (aq) and (g)
(s) and (l) have constant concentrations

CaCO3(s) + 2H+(aq) + 2Cl-(aq)

Ca2+(aq) + 2Cl-(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)

3.6

Only changes to (aq) and (g) reactants or products cause the

equilibrium to shift
(s) and (l) do not!
You can change the concentrations of (aq) and (g)
(s) and (l) have constant concentrations

CaCO3(s) + 2H+(aq) + 2Cl-(aq)

Ca2+(aq) + 2Cl-(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)

no shift- liquids have constant concentration-drop in the

bucket syndrome!

4.1

Adding a catalyst does not shift the equilibrium, however it does

allow you to reach equilibrium faster and both the forward and
reverse rates are increased by the same amount.

4.1

Adding a catalyst does not shift the equilibrium, however it does

allow you to reach equilibrium faster and both the forward and
reverse rates are increased by the same amount.

reactants
products

4.1

Adding a catalyst does not shift the equilibrium, however it does

allow you to reach equilibrium faster and both the forward and
reverse rates are increased by the same amount.

reactants
products

reactants
products

5.1
Adding an inert (non-reactive) gas does not shift the
equilibrium.
2NH3(g)

N2(g)

3H2(g)

5.1
Adding an inert (non-reactive) gas does not shift the
equilibrium.
2NH3(g)

Adding Ne(g)

N2(g)

3H2(g)

5.1
Adding an inert (non-reactive) gas does not shift the
equilibrium.
2NH3(g)

Adding Ne(g)
No shift!

N2(g)

3H2(g)