How will addition of a catalyst to the equilibrium equation:
CO(g) + H2O(g) ⇌ CO2(g) + H2(g) effect the equilibrium constant?
The addition or removal of a catalyst changes the RATE of a reaction but it doesn NOT change the equilibrium. Therefore, adding a catalyst will not shift the reaction either way. Adding a catalyst will make it reach equilibrium faster.
The addition of a catalyst to a reaction does not affect the equilibrium constant. The equilibrium constant is determined by the stoichiometry and temperature of the reaction and is independent of the presence or absence of a catalyst. A catalyst works by providing an alternative reaction pathway with lower activation energy, increasing the rate at which the reaction reaches equilibrium, but it does not change the position of the equilibrium or the equilibrium constant.
The addition of a catalyst to a reaction does not directly affect the equilibrium constant. The equilibrium constant (K) is a constant value that only depends on the temperature of the system and the stoichiometry of the balanced chemical equation. It represents the ratio of the concentrations (or pressures) of the products to the concentrations (or pressures) of the reactants, each raised to the power of their respective coefficients.
A catalyst is a substance that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction by providing an alternative reaction pathway with a lower activation energy. It accomplishes this by participating in the reaction, but being regenerated at the end, hence, it does not get consumed in the reaction.
Adding a catalyst does not change the position of the equilibrium or the concentrations of the reactants and products at equilibrium. Its role is to increase the rate at which the equilibrium is reached, but it does not affect the equilibrium concentrations or the equilibrium constant.
So, in summary, the addition of a catalyst to the equilibrium equation will have no effect on the equilibrium constant. The equilibrium constant remains the same regardless of the presence of a catalyst.