MCQEasyJEE 2025Le Chatelier's Principle

JEE Chemistry 2025 Question with Solution

Consider the equilibrium:

CO(g)+3H2(g)CH4(g)+H2O(g)\text{CO(g)} + 3\text{H}_2\text{(g)} \rightleftharpoons \text{CH}_4\text{(g)} + \text{H}_2\text{O(g)}

If the pressure applied over the system increases by two fold at constant temperature then:

  • A

    (A) and (B) only

  • B

    (A), (B) and (D) only

  • C

    (B) and (C) only

  • D

    (A), (B) and (C) only

Answer

Correct answer:A

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: The equilibrium is

CO(g)+3H2(g)CH4(g)+H2O(g)\text{CO(g)} + 3\text{H}_2\text{(g)} \rightleftharpoons \text{CH}_4\text{(g)} + \text{H}_2\text{O(g)}

and the pressure is increased twofold at constant temperature.

Find: Which statements remain correct after increasing pressure.

According to Le Chatelier's principle, increasing the pressure on a gaseous system favors the side with fewer moles of gas.

On the reactant side, total gaseous moles are:

1+3=41 + 3 = 4

On the product side, total gaseous moles are:

1+1=21 + 1 = 2

So the equilibrium shifts toward the right, that is, in the forward direction.

Hence, formation of CH4\text{CH}_4 and H2O\text{H}_2\text{O} increases, while reactant concentrations decrease.

The solution states that statements (A) and (B) are correct, and concludes that the correct option is A.

Therefore, the correct option is A.

Mole Count and Le Chatelier Analysis

Given:

CO(g)+3H2(g)CH4(g)+H2O(g)\text{CO(g)} + 3\text{H}_2\text{(g)} \rightleftharpoons \text{CH}_4\text{(g)} + \text{H}_2\text{O(g)}

Pressure is doubled at constant temperature.

Find: The correct choice among the listed statement combinations.

First calculate the change in total moles of gas:

Δn=(moles of gaseous products)(moles of gaseous reactants)\Delta n = \text{(moles of gaseous products)} - \text{(moles of gaseous reactants)} Δn=(1+1)(1+3)=24=2\Delta n = (1 + 1) - (1 + 3) = 2 - 4 = -2

Since Δn<0\Delta n < 0, the forward reaction reduces the number of moles of gas.

By Le Chatelier's principle, when pressure increases, equilibrium moves in the direction that reduces gaseous moles. Therefore, equilibrium shifts to the product side.

So:

  • formation of CH4\text{CH}_4 and H2O\text{H}_2\text{O} increases,
  • the forward direction is favored.

The extracted solution explicitly concludes:

  • (A) is correct,
  • (B) is correct,
  • final answer is (A) and (B) only.

Therefore, the correct option is A.

Common mistakes

  • A common mistake is to think that increasing pressure always changes the equilibrium constant. This is wrong because at constant temperature the equilibrium constant remains unchanged. Only the position of equilibrium shifts.

  • Another mistake is counting only species and not total gaseous moles. Here the left side has 44 moles of gas and the right side has 22 moles, so higher pressure favors the right side.

  • Students may confuse increase in pressure with increase in concentration of every species at equilibrium. The system initially gets compressed, but after re-equilibration the equilibrium shift causes products to increase and reactants to decrease relative to the new equilibrium state.

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