Le Chatelier's Principle and Effects on Equilibrium

Le Chatelier's Principle

Le Chatelier’s Principle states that if a chemical system at equilibrium experiences a change in concentration, temperature, volume, or pressure, then the equilibrium changes in response to the imposed change and a new equilibrium is established. Le Chatelier’s Principle is observed by modifying a Warm-Up activity that was completed in an earlier topic. In that Warm-Up, you transferred water from equally-sized cups with equally sized beakers until equilibrium was achieved. What would happen if you transferred water from buckets with beakers of unequal size?

Equipment and Materials

• Two cups
• Two beakers up to 500 ml that are different sizes
  

Procedure

1. Fill one cup approximately 3/4ths full with water (Cup One).
2. Leave the second cup empty (Cup Two).
3. Using the larger of the two beakers, pour water from Cup One into Cup Two.
4. Using the smaller of the two beakers, pour water from Cup Two into Cup One.
5. Repeat steps three and four until both buckets are at equilibrium.