ZingPath: Characteristics of Reactions

When a chemical reaction has reached equilibrium, it is a moment where the rates of the forward and the backward reactions are equal. Multiple exterior factors can cause this equilibrium to shift to favor the rate of the forward reaction or the rate of the backward reaction. These external factors are referred to as stresses on the reaction in Le Chatelier's principle. Le Chatelier's principle provides an explanation to the observations made when changes in external factor affect the equilibrium of a reaction. Le Chatelier's principle provides explanations to the results of changes for temperature, pressure, reaction amounts, and how these altering amounts will affect the direction of the reaction. In other words, it provides a means to predict if a stress favors the production of reaction products or reactants.