How would each of the following change the rate of the reaction shown here? 2SO₂(g) + O₂(g) → 2SO₃(g) a. adding some SO₂(g)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the factors that affect the rate of a chemical reaction, such as concentration, temperature, surface area, and catalysts.
2. Recognize that increasing the concentration of a reactant generally increases the rate of reaction because there are more molecules available to collide and react.
3. Understand that adding more SO₂(g) increases its concentration in the reaction mixture.
4. Apply the principle that with a higher concentration of SO₂(g), the frequency of effective collisions between SO₂ and O₂ molecules increases, leading to an increased reaction rate.
5. Conclude that adding some SO₂(g) will increase the rate of the reaction 2SO₂(g) + O₂(g) → 2SO₃(g) due to the increased concentration of one of the reactants.

Key Concepts

Le Chatelier's Principle

Le Chatelier's Principle states that if a dynamic equilibrium is disturbed by changing the conditions, the position of equilibrium shifts to counteract the change. In the context of the reaction provided, adding more SO₂(g) would shift the equilibrium to the right, favoring the production of SO₃(g) to reduce the concentration of SO₂(g).

Reaction Rate

The reaction rate refers to the speed at which reactants are converted into products in a chemical reaction. It can be influenced by factors such as concentration, temperature, and the presence of catalysts. Increasing the concentration of SO₂(g) increases the likelihood of collisions between reactant molecules, thereby increasing the rate of the reaction.

Equilibrium Constant (K)

The equilibrium constant (K) is a numerical value that expresses the ratio of the concentrations of products to reactants at equilibrium for a given reaction at a specific temperature. For the reaction 2SO₂(g) + O₂(g) ⇌ 2SO₃(g), adding SO₂(g) does not change the value of K but alters the concentrations of the reactants and products, affecting the position of equilibrium and the rate of reaction until a new equilibrium is established.