Question

How can a reaction which favors reactants at equilibrium be driven to generate additional products?

I am confused, how can you generate additional products if the equilibrium constant for this reaction is < 1, doesn't K need to be > 1 to generate additional products?

Answer 1

Answer :

Explanation by taking general example :

A +B <==> C+ D

Equibrium constant of this reaction (K) = [C] [D] / [A][B]

According to given situation , this reaction favours reactant and has value of K <1 .

Now, although K <1 but additional products can be generated according to Le Chatelier ' s principle .

According to this principle ,if in the reaction one of the product continuously removed from the reaction mixture immediately after it's formation , additional products will be formed .

This is because for backward reaction both products should combined with each other , if one of them is removed backward reaction would not proceed and only forward reaction proceed which favours Product formation.