Home › AP Chemistry › Chemistry › Fundamental Equilibrium Concepts › A change in conditions that upsets the balance o…
A change in conditions that upsets the balance of forward and reverse rates is called a:
AStress
BCatalyst
CSolvent
DSpectator
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. Stress
1. At equilibrium the forward and reverse reaction rates are equal.
2. If an equilibrium system is subjected to a change in conditions that affects these reaction rates differently, that change is a stress.
3. Then the rates are no longer equal and the system is not at equilibrium.
4. A catalyst speeds both directions equally, so it does not shift the position.
_Source: OpenStax Chemistry 2e (CC BY 4.0), Ch 13 'Fundamental Equilibrium Concepts', sections 13.1-13.4_
Related questions
The reaction quotient is useful during a reaction because its value:Many real systems involve coupled equilibria, meaning two reactions that share:Adding 0.10 mol of nitrogen dioxide to a 1.0 litre flask at 25 degrees Celsius left equiliReactions differ from many physical processes in that they may proceed:A reaction quotient equation using absolute concentrations rather than relative values is:Changing the volume of a gas-phase equilibrium changes the concentrations of:Multiplying every stoichiometric coefficient in an equation by a factor changes K:Removing hydrogen iodide from its equilibrium mixture leaves the concentrations of all thr