Question

The following reaction is exothermic. Which change will shift the equilibrium to the right? 2 SO2(g) 02(8)2 S03(g) O A) Adding SO3 O B) Increase volume O c) Increase the temperature OD) Adding catalyst 0 E) Increase pressure

Answer 1

According to Le Chateliers principle when a chemical reaction is in equilibrium any change that brings any disturbance to equilibrium, the equilibrium will shift to counteract the change.

Now in the reaction,

2SO2 (g) + O2(g) $\leftrightharpoons$ 2SO3 (g)

2 moles of SO2 and 1 mole of O2 is reacting to produce 2 mole SO3, also since all the species are gaseous in nature volume in the reactant side will be greater than that in product side. Since volume is lower in the product side than the reactant side, increase in pressure would shift the equilibrium towards the right.

Hence answer is option E. Increase pressure