Science Common Sense

1333 - What factors affect chemical equilibrium in terms of temperature and concentration?

So, when we talk about chemical equilibrium, it's like a balance between two things. Let's say we have a toy seesaw. In chemical equilibrium, some things can make the seesaw go up, and some things can make it go down.

Temperature: Imagine you're holding a hot or cold cup of coffee. If it's hot, the particles are moving really fast and making the seesaw go up. If you make the mixture hotter (increase temperature), the particles will move even faster, and the equilibrium will shift to the side that makes more heat. But if you make it colder (decrease temperature), the particles will move slower, and the equilibrium will shift to the side that makes less heat.

Concentration: Now, imagine you have more or fewer kids playing on the seesaw. If you add more kids (increase concentration), the seesaw will go up on the side with more kids. In chemical equilibrium, if you add more of one substance (increase concentration), the reaction will try to balance itself by using up some of that substance. And if you remove some of that substance (decrease concentration), the reaction will try to make more of it to balance itself again.

So, in short, if you:

• Increase temperature, the equilibrium shifts to the side that makes more heat.
• Decrease temperature, the equilibrium shifts to the side that makes less heat.
• Increase concentration of a substance, the equilibrium shifts to use up some of that substance.
• Decrease concentration of a substance, the equilibrium shifts to make more of that substance.