Question

If Kp is increasing with temperature,
a) is the forward reaction exothermic or endothermic?
b) which will be in a greater proportion: the products or the reactants?
And if the temperature is high then which side will the reaction favor: the endothermic side or the exothermic side?

Answer 1

Answer on Question# 57795 - Chemistry - General Chemistry

If Kp is increasing with temperature, a) is the forward reaction exothermic or endothermic? b) which will be in a greater proportion: the products or the reactants? And if the temperature is high then which side will the reaction favor: the endothermic side or the exothermic side?

Solution

Equilibrium constant $(K_p)$ is a measure of how fast the forward reaction is, compared to the reverse reaction. Greater $K_p$ values correspond to greater equilibrium concentrations of products. If $K_p$ is increasing, it means that the products will be in a greater proportion.

The effect of a change of temperature on a reaction will depend on whether the forward reaction is exothermic or endothermic. When the temperature increases, Le Chatelier's principle says the system will respond in such a way as to counteract this change, i.e. lower the temperature. Endothermic reactions produce a decrease in temperature. Therefore, the reaction will move towards the side of endothermic change.

Answer: a) endothermic; b) products; endothermic side.