Equilibrium Shifts

Definition

Equilibrium shifts refer to changes in the relative amounts of products and reactants when a system reaches chemical equilibrium. These shifts occur in response to changes in concentration, pressure, or temperature applied to an already established equilibrium.

Related terms

Concentration Changes:

If there are changes in concentration for any species involved in an equilibrium reaction, it can cause an equilibrium shift by affecting the relative amounts of products and reactants.

Pressure Changes: For reactions involving gases, changes in pressure can cause equilibrium shifts since the number of moles of gas on each side affects the balance.

Temperature Changes: Altering the temperature can lead to equilibrium shifts since it affects the value of the equilibrium constant (K) and changes reaction rates.