Le Chatelier's Principle

Reaction chamber / 01

Running

Forward rate

1.00 rel.

Reverse rate

1.00 rel.

Reactants

50 %

Products

50 %

Reaction system 01

N₂ + 3H₂ ⇌ 2NH₃

Exothermic synthesis reaction. Fewer gas molecules exist on the product side.

Applied disturbance 02

The system is at dynamic equilibrium. Forward and reverse reactions continue at equal rates.

System controls 03

Temperature 300 K

180 K 800 K

Pressure 1.00 atm

0.25 atm 4.00 atm

Reactant concentration 50%

Display 04

Reaction paths

Collision flashes

Concentration bars

Principle

System opposes change

When a system at equilibrium is disturbed, it shifts in the direction that reduces the disturbance.

Equilibrium composition

50 : 50

Reactants and products are present in balanced proportions.

Predicted response

No net shift

Forward and reverse reaction rates are equal.

This is a qualitative equilibrium model. Particle counts represent relative concentrations; the displayed response is designed to show the direction of equilibrium shift rather than calculate a specific real-world equilibrium constant.