Le Chatelier's Principle
What is Le Chatelier's Principle?
Le Chatelier's principle states that when a system at equilibrium is subjected to an external stress (such as a change in concentration, pressure, temperature, or volume), the system will shift its equilibrium position in the direction that partially counteracts or reduces that stress. For example, increasing the concentration of a reactant shifts the equilibrium toward the products, while increasing temperature for an exothermic reaction shifts equilibrium toward reactants. This principle is widely applied in industrial chemistry to optimize yield.
Key Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Le Chatelier's principle states that when a system at equilibrium is subjected to an external stress (such as a change in concentration, pressure, temperature, or volume), the system will shift its equilibrium position in the direction that partially counteracts or reduces that stress. For example, increasing the concentration of a reactant shifts the equilibrium toward the products, while increasing temperature for an exothermic reaction shifts equilibrium toward reactants. This principle is widely applied in industrial chemistry to optimize yield.