Labs / Chemistry
Le Chatelier
Two kinds of particles, A and B, keep flipping back and forth. Forward and reverse reactions race until the concentrations settle into a steady balance. Then poke the system — add more A, add more B, or turn up the heat — and watch it rearrange itself to relieve the stress you applied.
[A] 0[B] 0[B]/[A] 0
What to try
- Let it settle, then hit “Add A”. Where do all those extra A particles end up — and why doesn't [A] just stay high?
- The dashed line is where each concentration “wants” to be. What happens to it the instant you switch from Cold to Hot?
- Uncheck “Forward absorbs heat” and heat the flask again. Why does warming now push the balance the opposite way?
- Slide the Rate down low. Does a slow reaction reach a different balance, or just take longer to get there?
- Add a big slug of B, then watch the ratio [B]/[A]. Does it return to the same number it had before?