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The Theory Of The Equilibrium System

Decent Essays

In this lab, Le Chatelier’s Principle was observed by shifting different equilibriums to the left or right in order to make the colors of the rainbow. The equilibrium shift could be identified by the colors of the solution. In the tray 5 experiment, the reactant was pink and the product was a dark blue color. After stressing the equilibrium, a pink color indicated that the equilibrium was shifted to the left, and a blue color indicated that the equilibrium was shifted to the right. The stresses that were studied in this experiment were changes in the temperature of the system and changes in concentrations of reactants or products. Le Chatelier 's Principle states that when an equilibrium system is subject to a stress, the system responds by attaining a new equilibrium condition that minimizes the imposed stress. The main stresses on an equilibrium system are changes in concentration of the reactants or products, changes in temperature, and changes in pressure or volume for gaseous equilibria. The stress will either not cause a shift in equilibrium or will cause the system to shift left of right in order to establish an equilibrium. Adding or removing a pure solid or liquid does not change the concentration; therefore, it does not affect equilibrium. Only aqueous solutions and gases affect equilibrium. Increasing the concentration of the reactants will cause a shift to the right. Decreasing the concentration of the products also has the same effect. Decreasing the

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