Question

How would you drive a reaction that is endothermic and has a greater number of gaseous reactants than gaseous products?

Answer 1

Le Chatelier's principle states that When any system at equilibrium is subjected to change in concentration, temperature, volume, or pressure, then the system readjusts itself to (partially) counteract the effect of the applied change and a new equilibrium is established.

Using this concept, in our case we have an endothermic reaction. That means in order to go forward and form products it absobs heat enery. This heat must be supplied to the system in order to sustain the reaction. We have greater available heat for absorption by the reaction at high temperatures hence we must operate reaction at high temperature.

Now coming to Pressure. It is said that it has greater number of Gas reactants than Gas products. So it means when reaction goes forward it results in the formation of lesser number of Gas molecules than it consumes during reaction. In this case according to the priciple above, we must maintain a high pressure such that reaction shifts forward in order to reduc the number of gas molecules and thee by trying to reduce the effective pressure.

Hence we can say that we must drive above mentioned reaction at High Temperature and High Pressure.