The Effect of Temperature Changes on Equilibrium Flashcards

All 5 cards in this deck

If the forward reaction is endothermic, what does increasing the temperature do to the relative amount of products at equilibrium?

It increases the amount of products (equilibrium shifts to the right).

If the forward reaction is exothermic, what does increasing the temperature do to the relative amount of products at equilibrium?

It decreases the amount of products (equilibrium shifts to the left).

In which direction does the equilibrium position move when the temperature is decreased?

In the exothermic direction, so that the decrease in temperature is counteracted (energy is released).

True or false? Increasing the temperature always increases the yield of product in a reversible reaction.

False. It only increases the yield if the forward reaction is endothermic; for an exothermic forward reaction the yield falls.

Data show the percentage yield of a product decreases as temperature increases. What does this tell you about the forward reaction?

The forward reaction is exothermic (it releases energy to the surroundings).