Kinetics & Equilibrium
What You’ll Learn
Le Chatelier's principle states that when a system at equilibrium is subjected to a change in concentration, temperature, or pressure, the system will shift to counteract the change and establish a new equilibrium. If the concentration of a reactant is increased, the system will shift to consume that reactant and produce more products. If the temperature is increased, the system will shift to counteract the temperature increase. And if the pressure is increased, the system will shift to reduce the number of gas molecules and lower the pressure. Le Chatelier's principle allows us to predict how a system at equilibrium will respond to changes in its conditions.