In this topic we extend the idea of changes to an equilibrium mixture by looking at what happens if we change the temperature or add a catalyst.
After working through this topic you will be able to:
- appreciate that the effect of changing the temperature of an equilibrium mixture depends on whether the forward reaction is exothermic or endothermic;
- predict the effect on Kc and on the equilibrium position of changing the temperature of an equilibrium mixture;
- understand why adding a catalyst has no effect on the equilibrium composition;
- devise a teaching sequence that builds up skills and concepts students need to understand the effect of changing the temperature of an equilibrium mixture;
- understand the misconceptions that students have about the effect of temperature on an equilibrium mixture;
- use strategies to help students develop their ideas about the effect of temperature on an equilibrium mixture.