For an endothermic reaction at equilibrium, raising the temperature will
- A. shift the equilibrium towards the products and increase Kc
- B. shift the equilibrium towards the reactants
- C. have no effect
- D. decrease the rate of both reactions
Explanation
Heat can be treated as a reactant in an endothermic reaction, so supplying more of it drives the system forward to absorb the extra energy, which is Le Chatelier's principle applied to temperature. Because the position genuinely moves rather than being restored, the value of Kc increases as well. For an exothermic reaction the same reasoning gives the opposite result.
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