Le Chatelier's Principle and Effects on Equilibrium

When at chemical equilibrium, a reaction will exhibit no change in concentration for the products or reactants. In order to maintain this delicate condition, the pressure, temperature, and concentrations must be maintained. In many situations, even a small change in temperature can greatly impact the reaction and cause the rates of the forward and reverse reactions to no longer be equal. The reaction will shift to favor one direction until a new equilibrium concentration is reached. This shift in equilibrium is explained by Le Chatelier’s Principle. In this topic, you will investigate Le Chatelier’s Principle and its effects of equilibrium.

Essential Question

• How does Le Chatelier's Principle explain how a chemical reaction can shift to remain in equilibrium?