Introduction to Le Chatelier's Principle

AP Chemistry· difficulty 1/5

A student adds the following stresses one at a time to separate samples of an equilibrium mixture of [Co(H2O)6]^2+ (pink) <-> [CoCl4]^2- (blue) + 6 H2O (delta H > 0 forward) and records color change: Trial A: heat the solution -> turns blue Trial B: add concentrated HCl -> turns blue Trial C: add AgNO3 -> turns pink Trial D: add water -> turns pink

Trial A confirms that the forward reaction is:

  • A

    non-spontaneous at all temperatures

  • B

    at equilibrium with K = 1

  • C

    exothermic, since heating shifts toward reactants

  • D

    endothermic, since heating shifts the equilibrium toward products (blue)

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Explanation

For an endothermic forward reaction, increasing T shifts to the right (products). Solution turning blue indicates more [CoCl4]^2-.

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