Consider the following reaction at equilibrium.What will happen if O₂ is added to the reaction? 4 FeS₂(s)+ 11 O₂(g)⇌ 2 Fe₂O₃(s)+ 8 SO₂(g)

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Adding a reactant (O₂) will shift the equilibrium towards the products in order to restore the equilibrium. This is based on Le Chatelier's principle which states that a system at equilibrium will shift in the direction that relieves the stress applied to it. In this case, the addition of O₂ is a stress on the equilibrium because it increases the concentration of one of the reactants. Therefore, the equilibrium will shift to the right towards the products (Fe₂O₃ and SO₂) to decrease the concentration of O₂ and restore equilibrium.

Consider the Following Reaction at Equilibrium