A) Which direction does it shift when the temperature of an reaction in equillibrium is decreased? B) Which direction does it shift when the temperature of an reaction in equillibrium is increased? Solution You haven’t specified whether the reaction is exothermic or endothermic. However, I will give you a general idea. A) Exothermic Reaction A <=====> B + heat An exothermic reaction is one which released heat, i.e, heat can be considered a product of the reaction. A decrease in temperature of an exothermic reaction indicates a decrease in the heat. Therefore, in order to compensate for the decrease in temperature, an exothermic reaction proceeds to the right, i.e, in the direction of the products. Infact, an exothermic reaction is always favored by a decrease in temperature. Endothermic Reaction A + heat <=====> B An endothermic reaction is one where heat is absorbed, i.e, heat can be considered a reactant in the reaction. A decrease in temperature of the reaction indicates a decrease in the heat. Therefore, the reaction must proceed to the left to account for the reduction in temperature, i.e, the decrease in temperature of an endothermic reactions favors the reactants. Thus, the reaction proceeds to the left. B) Exothermic Reaction An increase in temperature will have the reverse effect on an exothermic reaction, since an increase in temperature is attended by an increase in heat. Therefore, the reaction proceeds to the left or favors the reactants. Endothermic Reaction An increase in temperature of an endothermic reaction favors the products and the reaction proceeds to the right. This is due to the fact that an increase in temperature is attended by an increase in heat (can be hypothetically assumed to be a reactant) and hence, the equilibrium shifts to the right. .

1. A) Which direction does it shift when the temperature of an reaction in equillibrium is
decreased?
B) Which direction does it shift when the temperature of an reaction in equillibrium is increased?
Solution
You haven’t specified whether the reaction is exothermic or endothermic. However, I will
give you a general idea.
A) Exothermic Reaction
A <=====> B + heat
An exothermic reaction is one which released heat, i.e, heat can be considered a product of the
reaction. A decrease in temperature of an exothermic reaction indicates a decrease in the heat.
Therefore, in order to compensate for the decrease in temperature, an exothermic reaction
proceeds to the right, i.e, in the direction of the products. Infact, an exothermic reaction is always
favored by a decrease in temperature.
Endothermic Reaction
A + heat <=====> B
An endothermic reaction is one where heat is absorbed, i.e, heat can be considered a reactant in
the reaction. A decrease in temperature of the reaction indicates a decrease in the heat. Therefore,
the reaction must proceed to the left to account for the reduction in temperature, i.e, the decrease
in temperature of an endothermic reactions favors the reactants. Thus, the reaction proceeds to
the left.
B) Exothermic Reaction
An increase in temperature will have the reverse effect on an exothermic reaction, since an
increase in temperature is attended by an increase in heat. Therefore, the reaction proceeds to the
left or favors the reactants.

2. Endothermic Reaction
An increase in temperature of an endothermic reaction favors the products and the reaction
proceeds to the right. This is due to the fact that an increase in temperature is attended by an
increase in heat (can be hypothetically assumed to be a reactant) and hence, the equilibrium
shifts to the right.