For the homogeneous gaseous equilibrium , what will happen if the volume of the reaction container i — Chemical Equilibrium Chemistry Question
Question
For the homogeneous gaseous equilibrium $2A(g) + 3B(g) \rightleftharpoons 3C(g) + D(g)$, what will happen if the volume of the reaction container is suddenly halved at a constant temperature?
💡 Solution & Explanation
Halving the volume instantly doubles the pressure and concentrations of all species. The system has 5 moles of gaseous reactants and 4 moles of gaseous products ($\Delta n_g = -1$). To relieve the increased pressure, the equilibrium shifts forward (towards fewer moles). Even after the shift, the volume reduction dominates, making final concentrations and total pressure higher than the initial state. $K_c$ remains constant as temperature is unchanged.