For the reaction below, describe the temperature and pressure conditions that would produce the highest yield for the forward reaction. Explain your answer in terms of Le Châtelier's principle.
CO (g) + 2 H2 (g) CH3OH (g) H = -90.7 kJ/mol

.....I don't even know what Le Chatelier's principle is......
please be patient with me and teach me (@.Sam. help me out once again please :D)

Question

For the reaction below, describe the temperature and pressure conditions that would produce the highest yield for the forward reaction. Explain your answer in terms of Le Châtelier's principle.
CO (g) + 2 H2 (g)   CH3OH (g)   H = -90.7 kJ/mol 

.....I don't even know what Le Chatelier's principle is......
please be patient with me and teach me (@.Sam. help me out once again please :D)

anonymous · Answer

someone please help me
@.Sam.

jfraser · Answer

lechatelier's principle says that a system at equilibrium will remove to relieve a stress put on the system. think of a reaction that's at equilibrium like a see-saw that's balanced. any change on one side must cause some mass to move to the other side to restore the balance

anonymous · Answer

I actually read that after posting this question (thanks for the explanation though) but I dont know how to solve this problem

jfraser · Answer

changing the temperature acts as a stress on this system. because it tells you the DH, is the reaction endothermic or exothermic?

anonymous · Answer

the only thing I know of this is
to have higher yield, apply more heat to the reactant side. this will produce more on the product side
if you add more pressure to the reactant side, there willl be more product

anonymous · Answer

other than this i am clueless

jfraser · Answer

that's not right

anonymous · Answer

its not?

jfraser · Answer

is the DH positive or negative?

anonymous · Answer

once again I do not quite understand the principle so can you explain what a DH is (sorry for not knowing some basic things)

jfraser · Answer

in the problem it tells you DH = _____. tell me what it is, positive or negative

anonymous · Answer

uhh negative

jfraser · Answer

since DH is negative, that means heat is produced as a product. the reaction "makes" heat energy. That's what the negative DH implies. Good so far?

anonymous · Answer

yeah (btw DH is Delta H right)

anonymous · Answer

so what do I do next?

anonymous · Answer

I need to submit it but thanks for helping out so far

jfraser · Answer

right, DH is delta H

since DH is negative, the reaction at equilibrium wants to "get rid of "heat energy. Increasing the temerature is going to have the opposite effect