If the concentration of the reactants is increased the equilibrium will shift to the right. More collisions will take place between the molecules of the reactants and the rate of the forward reaction will increase so more products will form. The concentration of the reactants will decrease until the rate of the forward reaction once again equals the rate of the reverse reaction and equilibrium is re-established.If the concentration of the products is increased the position of equilibrium will shift to the left. More collisions will take place between the molecules of the products and the rate of the reverse reaction will increase so more reactants will form. The concentration of the products will decrease until the rate of the forward reaction once again equals the rate of the reverse reaction and equilibrium is re-established.
Effect of Changing the Concentration on the Position of Equilibrium
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Specification: OCR Chemistry A (H032), AS-level, 3.2.3 Chemical equilibrium. Topic: Equilibrium.
Key terms in this lesson
- Position of equilibrium
- The relative amounts of reactants and products present when a reversible reaction has reached equilibrium.
More in Equilibrium
- Dynamic Equilibrium
- Le Chatelier's Principle
- Effects of Temperature on the Position of Equilibrium
- Effects of Pressure on the position of Equilibrium
- Effects of Catalysts on the Position of Equilibrium
- The Haber Process
- The Equilibrium Law
- Calculating the Equilibrium Constant
All 10 lessons in Equilibrium · All OCR AS-level Chemistry topics