The equilibrium constant (K) is unaffected by the pressure of the system, by the presence or absence of inerts,

or by the kinetics of the reaction, but is affected by the temperature of the system. Though the equilibrium
constant is unaffected by pressure or inerts, the equilibrium concentration of materials and equilibrium
conversion of reactants can be influenced by these variables.

K >> 1 indicates that practically complete conversion may be possible and that the reaction can be considered
to be irreversible. K<< 1 indicates that reaction will not proceed to any appreciable extent.

Temperature change effect:

Exothermic Reaction: An increase in temperature favors the backward reaction for exothermic reactions. For
an increase in temperature, equilibrium conversion drops as the products concentration decreases for
exothermic reactions.
 To increase the products concentration, temperature to be lowered by cooling the reaction mixture or
increase the reactants concentration and pressure. Equilibrium shifts in forward direction when
temperature is lowered or when reactants concentration is increased at high pressure.

Endothermic Reactions: An increase in temperature favors the forward reaction for endothermic reactions.
For an increase in temperature, equilibrium conversion rises as the products concentration increases for an
endothermic reaction.

Pressure change effect:

An increase in pressure in gas reactions, the point of equilibrium shifts in the direction of the smaller number
of moles of the gas. Conversion rises when the number of moles decreases with reaction; conversion drops
when the number of moles increases with reaction for an increase in pressure of the reaction.

If there is same number of moles of gas in each side of the reaction, the change in pressure will not shift the
Point of equilibrium.

The effect of pressure change on solids and liquids can be ignored because they are essentially be
incompressible. The volume (concentration) of the solution / liquids and solids are independent of pressure.

Effect of inert Gases addition:

Constant Volume: If the inert gas is added to the system at constant volume, there is no shift in the equilibrium
as the concentrations of the reactants & products are not changed.

Constant pressure: If the inert gas is aaded to the system at constant pressure, the equilibrium will shifts
towards the direction of increase in the number of moles of gases. Because addition of inerts will decrease the
concentrations of the reactants and products.

A decrease in inerts for all reactions acts in the way that an increase in pressure acts for gas reactions.

Effect of catalyst addition: Addition of catalysts to the equilibrium reactions will increase the rate of
both forward and back ward reactions proportionally but does not change the point of equilibrium.