Tuesday 10 November 2015

Does adding water to a reaction mixture shift equilibrium?


Just like decreasing volume in a gaseous reversible reaction shifts the position of equilibrium towards the side that produces more moles (increasing pressure), shouldn't adding water shift equilibrium to side that produces more moles in a liquid equilibrium mixture (increasing concentration)?



On research, I've seen an explanation that it does not because the concentration of both reactants and products decrease evenly, but I don't understand this. The side with more moles should have a greater decrease in concentration because the concentration is proportional to the number of moles. Also, by the same argument, decreasing volume in a gaseous reaction should not shift equilibrium.


My guess is that adding water does affect equilibrium for a reaction with different number of moles on each side. Because the equilibrium constant is affected. Is this right?




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