In: Chemistry
3. C (s) + H2O (g) → CO (g) + H2 (g) Le Châtelier's principle predicts that increasing the volume of the reaction vessel will ________.
According to Lechatliers principal , a reaction at equilibrium will always tries to resist or dismiss a change in it's concentration, pressure,volume, temperature.
If we increase the volume of a reaction at equilibrium, it inversely affects the partial pressure of the system. So when volume increases pressure of the system decreases.Partial pressures of gaseous reactants and products only considered here.Now system undergone decrease in pressure, so equilibrium will shift in such a way that the pressure increases ie volume decreases.
To increase pressure of system, equilibrium should shift from lower no of moles gaseous components to higher no of moles gaseous components.
In this reaction equilibrium will shift from left to right .Because on left side one mole water ie lower no of moles.On right side Total two moles, ie higher no of moles. Hence increase in volume will lead to production of CO and H2 will take place.