Methanol is synthesized according to when at a given temperature

CHEMISTRY · Single correct · A Level · Chemistry · Chemical equilibria (Le Chatelier’s principle and Kc) · Chemical equilibria (Le Chatelier’s principle and Kc)

Problem

Methanol is synthesized according to

\text{CO}(g) + 2\text{H}_2(g) \rightleftharpoons \text{CH}_3\text{OH}(g)

when

K_c = 0.50

at a given temperature. An equilibrium mixture in a

2.0\,\text{L}

vessel contains

1.0\,\text{mol}

of CO,

2.0\,\text{mol}

of H

_2

, and

0.50\,\text{mol}

of CH

_3

OH. If

0.30\,\text{mol}

of CH

_3

OH is rapidly removed while the volume remains constant, what will be the net direction of the reaction as the system moves toward a new equilibrium? (a) Toward reactants, because decreasing

[\text{CH}_{3}\text{OH}]

lowers the total pressure, so the equilibrium shifts toward the side with more gas molecules. (b) Toward products, because the new value of

Q_{c}

is less than

K_{c}

. (c) Toward reactants, because the new value of

Q_{c}

is less than

K_{c}

. (d) No net change;

Q_{c}

remains equal to

K_{c}

unless the temperature changes.

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