helpful "Push and Pull" Analogy

[Cylin Wang 2H]

Hello, just want to share a helpful "push and pull" analogy that the TA gave during an earlier discussion sections.

When something is added to one side of the equation (ex: increase concentration of reactant), it will "push" the equation to the other side (shift right, product increase).
When something is taken away from one side of the equation (ex: decrease concentration of reactant), it will "pull" the equation to its side (shift left, reactant increase.

This was super helpful for me to visualize Le Chatelier's principle :D

[705968765]

This was a great analogy. A similar analogy that my chemistry professor in high school used was the following:

Think of a see-saw, if you put more weight (or increase conc.) on the left side (reactants) the see-saw, the right side of the see-saw (products) will rise. Vice Versa, if you remove weight from the left side of the equation (reactants), the left side (reactants again) will rise up.

To be honest, I like your analogy a bit better, but thought I’d give this one out if it worked better for others.

[Olivia Kang 3C]

Does this analogy relate to the conjugate see-saw? Since increasing [H30+] decreases [OH-]?

[Jonathan Choe 3D]

Really helpful analogy!

[Emily La 2B]

I like to think of it as Add=Away, Remove=Toward. When something is added, the equilibrium will shift away from what was added. When something is removed, the equilibrium shifts towards it.

[Jason T 1I]

Thank you, I feel like I have a better understanding of Le Chatelier's Principle when using this analogy.

[405690892]

Could someone try explaining this in another way? I think I understand but I have trouble applying the dynamics of it in every situation; I seem only able to do it with some.

[Cylin Wang 2H]

Hi,

I'm glad that many people found this analogy useful. I have to add that this is limited to changes in concentration and partial pressure.

In the case of pressure change due to volume change (relies on a number of moles of gases on each side of the RXN) and temperature change (relies on endothermic vs exothermic reaction), this analogy would not be useful.