gen-briefly-explain-le-chatelier-s-principle-and-one-common-misc-5657

Briefly explain Le Chatelier's principle and one common misconception about it.

## Le Chatelier's Principle **The Principle:** When a system at equilibrium experiences a stress (change in concentration, pressure, or temperature), the system shifts to partially counteract that stress and establish a new equilibrium. For example, if you add more reactant to an equilibrium mixture, the system responds by shifting toward products to consume some of that added reactant. ## Common Misconception **The misconception:** Many students believe the system shifts to *completely undo* the stress and restore the original equilibrium position. **The reality:** The shift only *partially* counteracts the change. If you add more reactant, the system does shift toward products, but the final equilibrium will still have MORE of that reactant than before you added it—just not as much as if no shift had occurred. The system doesn't return to its original state; it reaches a new equilibrium position.