How would the equilibrium shift?

Question

N2+3H2 ---> 2NH3

If nitrogen is removed how will the equlibrium shift and why?

Answer 1

N2+3H2 <==> 2NH3

Once an equilibrium is established the rate of the forward reaction equals the rate of the backward reaction.
If the equilibrium is disturbed for whatever reason the reaction will shift to re-establish the equilibrium.

If Nitrogen gas is removed from the reaction chamber than the equilibrium is disturbed and there is now too much "product" (NH3) in the chamber, thus the reaction shifts to favor the formation of more "reactants" (N2 and H2) in order to re-establish equilibrium. Thus, the reaction shifts towards the left side as written above.

The reason for this is because removing the N2 from the reaction chamber caused the rate of Ammonia (NH3) formation to decline, however this does not, immediately, effect the rate of Ammonia decomposition. NH3 decomposes to form more N2 and H3 causing the equilibrium to re-establish.

Answer 2

If Nitrogen (N2) is removed, then the equilibrium will shift to the left because when the levels of N2 decreases, then there is more of 2NH3 that can dissociate faster to create more N2 and so the reaction is driven more towards the left.

In other words, since the concentration of N2 has decreased, then the the reaction of N2 and 3H2 forming 2NH3 will decrease. Therefore, the other reaction will be faster. (assuming that you meant to show the reaction arrow going in both directions.. <--->)

Answer 3

It would shift the equilibrium towards the left. It is called the low of mass. If you add some more reactant on one side of the equation it pushes the reaction towards the other side (you “nourish” the reaction…). If you remove one reactant from one side, you pull the reaction towards that side (You “starve” the reaction…)