Experiment #3: Le Chatelier’s Principle

Jumawid, Noreen Antoinette B.

Sanchez, Aycee Cleo A.
Varquez, Trisha Elysse T.
Group no. 5; Chem 18.1; MEG1 ; Mr. Pelovello
September 17, 2015
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I. Abstract

Le Chatelier’s Principle states that if a system at equilibrium is disturbed by a change in temperature, pressure, or a
component concentration, the system will shift its equilibrium position so as to counteract the effect of the disturbance.
(Brown et.al., 2003). The factors that affect the chemical equilibrium, concentration, temperature, pressure, and the
addition of a catalyst, are examined in the experiment. The experiment conducted was composed of placing substances in
a spot plate and observing the reactions. The experiment was conducted to show how the change in concentration and
temperature affect the systems. The increase of concentration yielded a forward shift and the decrease in concentration
yielded a reverse shift. The change in temperature produced a forward shift because the reaction was exothermic. These
were observed from the color changes that the chemical reactions produced. Chemical equilibrium is applied in everyday
life when we observe the state of equilibrium in the natural system of man, such as blood (between O 2 and hemoglobin)
as well as in the production of ammonia (N2(g) + 3H2(g) <==> 2NH3(g)).

II. Keywords chemical equilibrium, concentration, disturbance, Le Chatelier’s Principle, temperature

III. Introduction if the system is at constant temperature. (Brown et.al.,

Chemical Equilibrium is the state where there are
no observable changes as time goes by. When a
chemical reaction has reached the equilibrium state, the
concentrations of the reactants and the products remain
constant over time and there are no observable changes
in the system. Le Chatelier’s Principle states that when a
stress or disturbance is applied to a system, the system
adjusts in a way that the stress will affect the system as it
reaches a new equilibrium position. (Chang, 2010). The
factors that affect the equilibrium, or the stressors, are
changes in concentration, changes in temperature,
changes in volume and pressure, and the addition of a
catalyst/s.
The concentration of a reactant or a product
shifts the equilibrium state forward or reverse, depending
on if the substance is added or removed from either the
product or the reactant side. If a substance is removed,
then the concentration decreases and the system will
return to equilibrium by producing more of the substance.
Similarly, if the more of the substance is added, then the
system will return to equilibrium if more of the substance
is consumed. (Brown et.al., 2003).
The change in pressure and volume only affects
the equilibrium of gases. When the volume decreases,
the pressure increases. According to Le Chatelier’s
Principle, the system responds by shifting the equilibrium
to reduce the pressure by reducing the total amount of
gas molecules. Thus, if the volume increases and the
pressure decreases then the system responds by
increasing the total amount of gas molecules. This occurs
2003).
The change in temperature is the only one that
can alter the equilibrium constant. When the temperature
increases, an endothermic reaction is favored, and when
the temperature decreases, an exothermic reaction is
favored. (Claros & Pascua, 2011).
The addition of a catalyst does not cause a shift
in direction or alter the equilibrium but only hastens it.
This is because the catalyst affects the activation energy
of the forward or reverse reaction similarly. (Claros &
Pascua, 2011).
Le Chatelier’s Principle is important because it
helps in the prediction and manipulation of equilibrium. By
understanding the effect of these factors, certain needs or
requirements, can be attained whether it be to produce
more or less of the reactants and products.
The experiment conducted was to observe the
effect of concentration and temperature to the
equilirbrium of the chemical reactions.
IV. Experimental
The first part of the experiment focused on
determining the shifts in the direction of the equilibrium to
either to the product or reactant side. To do this, 1.0 mL
of 2.0 M Cu(NO3)2, 1.0 mL of 2.0 M NH4OH, and 5 mL of
distilled H2O were mixed in a small test tube. The mixture
was then mixed well with a stirrer. Five drops of the
solution were each placed in spot plate depressions
labeled A to F. Five drops of each of the following

Chemistry 18.1, Le Chatelier’s Principle Page 1 of 4

reagents were also added to its designated spot plate Table 3. Direction of shift in equilibrium
depression: System Direction of Shift
A Right/ Forward
Table 1. Reagents to be added to the Spot Plate Depressions B Right/ Forward
Position Reagent C Left/ Reverse
S H2O (standard for comparison) D Left/ Reverse
A 0.1 M Cu(NO3)2 E Left/ Reverse
B 0.1 M NH4OH F None
C 0.1 M K4Fe(CN)6 G Right/Forward
D 0.1 M HCl The next table shows the changes in color that
E 0.1 M NaOH has occurred with the addition of 5 drops 0.1 M K 2CrO4
F 0.1 M NaNO3 and 6.0 M HCl dropwise to position H of the spot plate. It
In another small test tube, 1.0 mL of the solution and also shows the observations incurred from the addition of
0.5 mL of water were mixed. The test tube was then 5 drops 0.1 M K2CrO4, 0.1 M Pb(NO3)2, and 6.0 M HCl to
placed in a cold water bath for 5 minutes. After this, 10 position I of the spot plate.
drops of the mixture were transferred to position G on the
spot plate. The result was compared to the standard S. Table 4. Observations For Part B
Reagent Added Observations
On the second part of the experiment, 5 drops of 0.1 To position H
M K2CrO4 were placed in position H. Six M HCl was also 5 drops 0.1 M Yellow to orange
added dropwise, and the mixture was mixed after every K2CrO4
addition, until a change in color is observed. Lastly, 5 6.0 M HCl Orange to near yellowish
solution
drops of 0.1 M K2CrO4 were added to position I, together
To position I
with a dropwise addition of 0.1 M Pb(NO3)2 until
5 drops 0.1 M Yellow precipitate
precipitation is complete. Six M HCl were also added K2CrO4
dropwise. Results were then observed and recorded. 0.1 M Pb(NO3)2 Darkening of solution from
yellow to orange; decrease in
V. Results amount of precipitate
6.0 M HCl
The color of the solution in the first part of the
experiment was blue. After the designated reagents were
added to the spot plate depressions, the different systems VI. Discussion
were compared to the standard solution, S, and garnering
Table 5.Observation of effect of shift in equilibrium
the following observations:
System Direction Explanation
Table 2. Comparison of Each System with Standard S of Shift
System Observations A Forward Increase in reactant
S Light blue solution concentration
A Darker blue solution compared to S B Forward Increase in reactant
B Darker blue solution compared to S concentration
C Dark reddish brown solution C Backward Decrease in reactant
D Lighter blue solution compared to S concentration; Cupric
ions react with
E Lighter blue solution compared to S
ferrocyanide
F Same color as S
D Backward Decrease in reactant
concentration; H+ ions
react with NH3
It was also observed that the mixture of the solution and
E Backward Decrease in reactant
water in #3 that was placed in a cold bath for 5 minutes. concentration; Cupric
Based on this observation, the following shifts in ions react with OH-
equilibrium were concluded: F None Na+ and NO3- are
spectator ions
G Forward Exothermic reaction;
Lower temperature
results in forward
reaction

Chemistry 18.1, Le Chatelier’s Principle Page 2 of 4

 In Part A, the following equilibrium reaction was
observed for the first solution (S):
Cu2+(aq) + 4NH3(aq) ↔ Cu(NH3)42+(aq)
blue colorless deep blue
Tetra-amine copper (II) ion complex was formed
when cupric ions reacted with ammonia.
Systems A and B had forward shifts since both
experienced an increase in the reactant concentration.
For System A, Cu(NO3)2 was added which then
dissociated to Cu2+ and NO3-, thus resulting in the addition
of the reactant Cu2+. In the case of B, NH4OH was added
which then dissociated to NH3 and H2O, thereby
increasing the reactant NH3. An increase in reactants
results in forward shifts.
Systems C,D, and E also experienced a similar
direction of shifts. The backward shift could be attributed
to the decrease in the concentration of the reactant.
In C, K4Fe(CN)6 was added. The reagent then
dissociated into K+ and Fe(CN)6- ions. Instead of reacting
with NH3, Cu2+ reacted with the ferrocyanide ions to form
Cu2Fe(CN)6, the reddish brown precipitate.
In D, HCl was added, dissociating into H+ and Cl-.
The lighter color of the solution is explained by the
reaction between the H+ ions and NH3, decreasing the
reactant concentration and causing a backward shift.
In E, NaOH was added to the solution which then
dissociated into Na+ and OH- ions. A decrease in the
reactant concentration was observed when Cu 2+ reacted
with OH- to form Cu(OH)2.
No change was observed in System F. This is
because when NaNO3 was added into the solution, it
dissociated into Na+ and NO3- that only acted as spectator
ions.
For System G, the solution was placed in an ice bath,
forcing the reaction to release heat. In order for the
exothermic reaction to achieve a state of equilibrium, it
shifts forward, allowing more products to form. This
increase in the concentration of the products explains the
darker color of the solution.
Part B was divided into two sets of procedures. For
the first set, the following equilibrium reaction was
involved:
Chemistry 18.1, Le Chatelier’s Principle
2CrO42- + 2H+ Cr2O72- + H2O
Yellow Orange
HCl was added to K2CrO4 was added transforming
the color from yellow to orange. This is change in color
could be attributed to the formation of dichromate ions
which are orange in color. When NaOH was added to the
solution, the color transformed from orange to a clear
yellowish solution. The color transformation was caused
by the reaction between H+ and OH- ions, forming water.
Dichromate ions (Cr2O72-) dominated the acidic
solution because upon addition of HCl, H+ ions reacted
with chromate ions, favoring the formation of dichromate
ions and causing a forward direction of the equilibrium
shift.
Chromate ions (CrO42-) dominated the basic solution
when NaOH was added. OH- ions reacted with the H+
ions to form water in the dichromate side. This increase in
the concentration of products causes a backward shift in
equilibrium. The change in color from orange to yellowish
could be attributed to the transformation of dichromate
ions to chromate ions.
For the second set of Part B, the following equilibrium
reaction was observed:
CrO42-(aq)+ Pb2+(aq) PbCrO4(aq)
Pb(NO3)2 was added to K2CrO4, forming the yellow
precipitate PbCrO4 and decreasing the chromate
concentration of the solution. When HCl was added, the
amount of yellow precipitate decreased. This could be
attributed to the reaction between H+ ions with chromate
ions to form dichromate ions, shifting the reaction in favor
of the reactants’ side.
VII. Conclusion and Recommendations
Le Chatelier’s principle states that if an external
stress is applied to a system at equilibrium, the system
adjusts in such a way that the stress is partially offset as
the system reaches a new equilibrium position. As seen
in the experiment, a change in concentration, pressure
and volume, temperature and the presence of a catalyst
can all cause a stress on a system. Only a change in
temperature however can change the value of the
equilibrium constant. Changes in concentration, pressure,
and volume can only alter the equilibrium concentrations
of the reacting mixtures.
Page 3 of 4
 It is recommended to keep a keen eye on the
changes in color that has occurred in the reacting
mixtures. A more exact utilization of the dropper is also
best to make results more accurate.

VIII. References

Brown, T., Lemay, H.E., Bursten B., Murphy C.,

Woodward, P. & Stoltzfus, M. (2015). Chemistry:
The Central Science. 13th ed. Upper Saddle, NJ:
Pearson Education, Inc.

Chang, R. (2003). General Chemistry: The Essential

Concepts. 3rd ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill

Claros, C., Pascua, R. (July 9, 2011). Experiment 3: Le

Chatelier’s Principle.

I hereby certify that I have given substantial contribution

to this report.

______________________________
Noreen Antoinette Jumawid

_____________________________
Aycee Cleo Sanchez

______________________________

Trisha Elysse Varquez

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