Explanation Of Le Chatelier's Principle
“Le Chatelier’s Principle”
Mihir Patel, Mississippi State University
2015
In 1884, a French chemist Henry-Louis Le Chatelier, “proposed one the central concepts of chemical equilibria.1” Henry was best known for his principle, properly name Le Chatelier’s principle. The principle allows one to “predict the change of conditions will have on a chemical reaction.3” His finding of this principle came from his early work in the experimental study of thermodynamics.3 Le Chatelier’s principle states what will happen to a system if a condition such as concentration, temperature, or pressure moves the system away from equilibrium.2
When the equilibrium of a system’s concentration is disturbed, the equilibrium position will shift toward the side …show more content…
To better understand the effect of temperature on equilibrium, one must look at heat as a product or reactant.2 Chatelier expresses that if a reaction mixture is heated an endothermic reaction is more favored, while if the mixture is cooled then an exothermic reaction is favored. Based on that, the principle predicts the equilibrium position will move depending on if the reaction will consume more head or produce more …show more content…
The stoichiometry of the reaction will affect the pressure change on the reaction.1 Just like the other conditions Le Chatelier’s Principle states the equilibrium point will move to stabilize the change in pressure. The cause of pressure is from gas molecules hitting the sides of their container, so proportionally the more molecules in the container the higher the pressure is. If the pressure is increased the reaction will move toward the side with fewer molecules and if the pressure is decreased the reaction will produce more molecules to make the pressure increase again.2 Henry-Louis Le Chatelier’s principle provided to be very valuable for developing more efficient chemical processes. Le Chatelier was a very educated man, earning many degrees in his early life. After only two years as a mining engineer he became a chemistry lecturer in 1877, where he had a very well equipped laboratory. After conducting many experiments his work led him to the study of thermodynamics. His work led to the principle we know today as Le Chatelier’s principle, which outlines ‘how systems in chemical equilibrium maintain their
Mihir Patel, Mississippi State University
2015
In 1884, a French chemist Henry-Louis Le Chatelier, “proposed one the central concepts of chemical equilibria.1” Henry was best known for his principle, properly name Le Chatelier’s principle. The principle allows one to “predict the change of conditions will have on a chemical reaction.3” His finding of this principle came from his early work in the experimental study of thermodynamics.3 Le Chatelier’s principle states what will happen to a system if a condition such as concentration, temperature, or pressure moves the system away from equilibrium.2
When the equilibrium of a system’s concentration is disturbed, the equilibrium position will shift toward the side …show more content…
To better understand the effect of temperature on equilibrium, one must look at heat as a product or reactant.2 Chatelier expresses that if a reaction mixture is heated an endothermic reaction is more favored, while if the mixture is cooled then an exothermic reaction is favored. Based on that, the principle predicts the equilibrium position will move depending on if the reaction will consume more head or produce more …show more content…
The stoichiometry of the reaction will affect the pressure change on the reaction.1 Just like the other conditions Le Chatelier’s Principle states the equilibrium point will move to stabilize the change in pressure. The cause of pressure is from gas molecules hitting the sides of their container, so proportionally the more molecules in the container the higher the pressure is. If the pressure is increased the reaction will move toward the side with fewer molecules and if the pressure is decreased the reaction will produce more molecules to make the pressure increase again.2 Henry-Louis Le Chatelier’s principle provided to be very valuable for developing more efficient chemical processes. Le Chatelier was a very educated man, earning many degrees in his early life. After only two years as a mining engineer he became a chemistry lecturer in 1877, where he had a very well equipped laboratory. After conducting many experiments his work led him to the study of thermodynamics. His work led to the principle we know today as Le Chatelier’s principle, which outlines ‘how systems in chemical equilibrium maintain their