What happens to the reaction rate as the supply of toothpicks runs out?

Question

Chemistry

Brynn Pierce

6 April, 15:34

What happens to the reaction rate as the supply of toothpicks runs out?

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Answers (1)

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Laney Lang · Answer 1

For a reversible reaction:

At equilibrium, the rate of the forward reaction should be equal to the rate of the backwards reaction.

Increasing the amount of reactants would shift the equilibrium towards the formation of new products, so the rate of the forward reaction would increase until the equilibrium balance is reached again.

On the other hand, decreasing the amount of reactants would shift the equilibrium towards the formation of reactants, so the rate of the reverse reaction would increase until equilibrium is reached again.

Based on this, decreasing the supply of toothpicks (reactants) would shift the equilibrium towards the formation of reactants (towards the left) and the rate of the reverse reaction would increase until equilibrium is reached again.