Definition

Noun: - Le Chatelier's law: A principle in chemistry stating that if a system at equilibrium experiences a change in concentration, temperature, volume, or pressure, the system will shift its equilibrium position to counteract the effect of that change and establish a new equilibrium.

Usage

This term is used specifically in the context of chemical equilibrium and physical chemistry to predict the direction of the shift in a reaction when conditions are altered. - According to Le Chatelier's law, increasing the pressure on a gaseous system will shift the equilibrium toward the side with fewer moles of gas. - When applying Le Chatelier's law, we can predict that adding more reactant will cause the system to produce more product.

Advanced Usage

• "In accordance with Le Chatelier's law...": Used to formally introduce a prediction based on the principle.
  • In accordance with Le Chatelier's law, cooling an exothermic reaction shifts the equilibrium to produce more heat.
• The principle is often applied to industrial processes, such as the Haber process for ammonia synthesis, to maximize product yield by manipulating conditions.

Variants and Related Words

• Le Chatelier's principle: This is the more common and complete name for the same concept.
• Equilibrium: A state where the forward and reverse reaction rates are equal, resulting in no net change in concentrations.
• Stress: In this context, refers to the imposed change (in concentration, pressure, temperature) on a system at equilibrium.

Synonyms

• Le Chatelier's principle: The full and most precise synonym.
• The equilibrium law: A less common, more general synonym.

Related Phrases/Concepts

• "Predict the shift using Le Chatelier's law": A common instructional phrase in chemistry.
  • For this reaction, predict the shift using Le Chatelier's law if the temperature is increased.
• "Counteract the change": The core idea of the law, often used in its explanation.
  • The system will adjust to counteract the change imposed upon it.

Noun

1. the principle that if any change is imposed on a system that is in equilibrium then the system tends to adjust to a new equilibrium counteracting the change