how does the change prressure affect the value of equilibrium constant
Answers
The only thing that changes an equilibrium constant is a change of temperature. That means that if you increase the pressure, the position of equilibrium will move in such a way as to decrease the pressure again - if that is possible. It can do this by favouring the reaction which produces the fewer molecules.
Explanation:
If the pressure of a gaseous reaction mixture is changed the equilibrium will shift to minimise that change.
• If the pressure is increased the equilibrium will shift to favour a decrease in pressure.
• If the pressure is decreased the equilibrium will shift to favour an increase in pressure.
When the volume of a system is decreased (and the temperature is constant), the pressure will increase. There are more collisions with the walls of the container.
If there are fewer gas molecules there will be fewer collisions, and therefore lower pressure.
The equilibrium will shift in a direction that reduces the number of gas molecules so that the pressure is also reduced. So, to predict in which direction the equilibrium will shift to change pressure we need to look at the number of gas molecules in the balanced reactions.