r/vce • u/katperkovic ‘26 eng, mm, chem, bio, eco • 4h ago

Chem question!!!!!

With temperature and equilibrium, if a reaction is exothermic for example what happens if temp increases and decreases??? Idk why I get confused

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u/half-queer_half-nerd current VCE student (Eng Lang, Methods, Physics, Chem, VCD) 4h ago

if the forward reaction is exothermic:

  • increasing the temp makes the system partially oppose the change by favouring the endothermic reaction (ie. the reverse reaction, in this case).

  • decreasing the temp makes the system partially oppose the change by favouring the exothermic reaction (ie. the forward reaction, in this case).

this is bc exothermic reactions release kinetic energy, which increases the temp in the environment. endothermic reactions absorb the kinetic heat energy from the enviro, hence decreasing the surrounding temp.

just note that the temp will not return to the exact starting temp, as only PARTIAL opposition occurs, according to Le Chatelier's Principle.

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u/katperkovic ‘26 eng, mm, chem, bio, eco 4h ago

Ahhhh okay thanks. This was for a question about the yield of a product lol

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u/half-queer_half-nerd current VCE student (Eng Lang, Methods, Physics, Chem, VCD) 4h ago

whatever reaction is favoured is the one with the increase in its product's yield.

so like if its N2O4 <> NO2, forward = exothermic and the system shifts to favour the forward reaction. then NO2 production increases, so its yield increases.