Influence of Pressure on Chemical Equilibrium: A Theoretical and Experimental Study

The investigation focuses on the effects of pressure on equilibrium positions of gas-phase reactions, based on both theoretical calculations and experimental data. Using Le Chatelier's principle and the ideal gas law, we derived the mathematical relationships that describe how changes in pressure affect equilibrium constants, as well as the concentrations of reactants and products. A series of experiments were conducted in a high-pressure reactor system to complement the theoretical study, measuring the selected reactions before, during, and after the application of pressure. In this report, we demonstrate that increasing pressure shifts the equilibrium toward the side with fewer moles of gas, a prediction supported by theory and other researchers. Furthermore, we measured the equilibrium constants at various pressures and temperatures to quantify these changes using the van't Hoff equation, which adds a thermodynamic view to the study. The results substantiate not only the effect of pressure on reaction rates but also its significance in industry, as specific reactions can be carried out at elevated-pressure conditions, thereby improving process yield. The study provides an overview of the potential impact of pressure on chemical equilibria and its application to future studies on high-pressure synthesis and reaction engineering in fields such as petrochemistry, materials science, and other engineering processes. This study ultimately indicates the necessity of considering pressure in process design or process optimization.