Temperature and Le Chatliers

[Anagh Samavedam 2C]

Im confused how the temperature changes the equilibrium position of a reaction. If the temp is increased for an exothermic reaction, why would it shift in the reverse reaction and how does it relate to the enthalpy of the reaction?

[hadydamaj27]

For an exothermic reaction, increasing temperature favors the reverse (endothermic) reaction according to Le Chatelier's Principle. This relationship is influenced by the enthalpy change of the reaction, where exothermic reactions release heat and endothermic reactions absorb heat.

[Sydni Bednarek 3I]

You could try thinking about it like this: for an exothermic reaction, heat is released, so you can think about heat as a product of the reaction. We know that adding more product to a reaction shifts the reaction towards the formation of the reactants, or the reverse reaction, until equilibrium is achieved again. Therefore, adding heat to an exothermic reaction will cause the reaction to shift towards the reactants, which will decrease the equilibrium constant because the reactants are in the denominator.

To answer your other question, the change in enthalpy of an exothermic reaction will be negative, while the change in enthalpy of an endothermic reaction will be positive.

[106062642]

Le Chatelier's principle states that when the temperature of an exothermic reaction is raised, the equilibrium position shifts in favor of the reverse reaction. This shift, which is connected to the reaction's enthalpy change (ΔH), which controls the reaction's heat flow, helps in absorbing excess heat and preserving equilibrium.