The direction in which the equilibrium shifts depends on the sign of ΔH and whether or not the reaction is endothermic or exothermic.If the temperature is increased the position of equilibrium will shift in the endothermic direction to minimise the rise in temperature.If the temperature is decreased the position of equilibrium will shift in the exothermic direction to minimise the fall in temperature.
Effects of Temperature 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
- Exothermic
- Describes a process in which heat energy is transferred from the system to the surroundings, so the enthalpy change is negative.
- Endothermic
- Describes a process in which heat energy is transferred from the surroundings to the system, so the enthalpy change is positive.
- 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
- Effect of Changing the Concentration 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