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The Effect of Changing Concentration on the Position of Equilibrium

The equilibrium constant does not change unless the temperature changes. If the equilibrium is disturbed by changing the concentration the position of equilibrium will shift so that a new equilibrium will be set upFor the equilibrium:

CH3CH2OH + CH3COOH ⇌ CH3COOCH2CH3 + H2O

Adding ethanol makes the bottom of the equilibrium law larger so more ethanol reacts with ethanoic acid to restore Kc and the position of equilibrium moves to the right until the expression is once again equal to Kc.

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Specification: AQA Chemistry (7404), AS-level, 3.1.6.2 Equilibrium constant Kc for homogeneous systems and 3.1.6.1 Chemical equilibria and Le Chatelier's principle. Topic: Equilibria.

Key terms in this lesson

Equilibrium constant
A value, Kc, that expresses the relative concentrations of products and reactants at equilibrium for a reaction.
Position of equilibrium
The relative amounts of reactants and products present when a reversible reaction has reached equilibrium.

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