Chemistry For Engineers Practice Test

Access More Questions

If a reactant concentration is suddenly doubled and the system is allowed to re-establish equilibrium at the same temperature, what happens to the value of the equilibrium constant K?

K increases K decreases K remains the same K becomes undefined

Correct Answer:

K remains the same

Explanation:

The value of the equilibrium constant is determined by temperature, not by how much reactant you start with. At the same temperature, K is fixed for a given reaction. If you suddenly double the reactant concentration, the system shifts to re-establish equilibrium (Le Chatelier’s principle), producing more products or adjusting the mix until the ratio of products to reactants, each raised to their stoichiometric powers, matches the same K as before. So, once equilibrium is re-established, K remains unchanged. If the temperature were changed, then K would change accordingly; at constant temperature, it stays the same.

Access more questions from this quiz

Continue to Chemistry for Engineers Practice Test for more practice questions and the full quiz experience.

Access More Questions