How would the equilibrium concentration of H2O be affected by removing H2 from the mixture?

1 Answer
Jul 6, 2018

All other things equal, there would be a decline in [H2O].

Explanation:

The question is likely to be talking about the thermal decomposition of H2O, a nonspontaneous process that becomes reversible at ridiculously-high temperature. The chemical equation for this reaction- a reversible process- is:

H2O(g)H2(g)+12lO2(g)

Removing H2(g) reduces its concentration in the mixture (assuming that volume stays unchanged.)

The Le Chatlier's Principle predicts that the system would respond to this change in a way as if it's trying to minimize the change's impact on the equilibrium conditions. H2O would be consumed as the system try to produce H2 to (effortlessly) make up for the removal.

n(H2O) declines whereas V stays the same (assumed.)
c=nV, what would be the direction of the change in c(H2O)?

Reference
"Water splitting." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 15 Jun. 2018. Web. 6 Jul. 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_splitting#Thermal_decomposition_of_water

"Thermochemical cycle." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 18 Mar. 2018. Web. 6 Jul. 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermochemical_cycle