Le Chatelier's principle

Le Chatelier's principle (pronounced UK: /lə ʃæˈtɛljeɪ/ or US: /ˈʃɑːtəljeɪ/), also called Chatelier's principle (or the Equilibrium Law),^[1]^[2] is a principle of chemistry used to predict the effect of a change in conditions on chemical equilibrium.^[3] The principle is named after French chemist Henry Louis Le Chatelier, and sometimes also credited to Karl Ferdinand Braun, who discovered it independently. It can be defined as:

If the equilibrium of a system is disturbed by a change in one or more of the determining factors (as temperature, pressure, or concentration) the system tends to adjust itself to a new equilibrium by counteracting as far as possible the effect of the change
— Le Chatelier's principle, Merriam-Webster Dictionary

In scenarios outside thermodynamic equilibrium, there can arise phenomena in contradiction to an over-general statement of Le Chatelier's principle.

Le Chatelier's principle is sometimes alluded to in discussions of topics other than thermodynamics.

^ "Le Chatelier's principle (video)". Khan Academy. Archived from the original on 2021-04-20. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
^ Helmenstine, Anne Marie (2020). "Le Chatelier's Principle Definition". ThoughtCo. Archived from the original on 2021-04-20. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
^ Ball, David W.; Key, Jessie A. (2014-09-16). "Shifting Equilibria: Le Chatelier's Principle". Introductory Chemistry – 1st Canadian edition. Victoria, B.C: BCcampus: OpenEd. ISBN 978-1-77420-003-2 – via opentextbc.ca.

[1] "Le Chatelier's principle (video)". Khan Academy. Archived from the original on 2021-04-20. Retrieved 2021-04-20.

[2] Helmenstine, Anne Marie (2020). "Le Chatelier's Principle Definition". ThoughtCo. Archived from the original on 2021-04-20. Retrieved 2022-03-09.

[3] Ball, David W.; Key, Jessie A. (2014-09-16). "Shifting Equilibria: Le Chatelier's Principle". Introductory Chemistry – 1st Canadian edition. Victoria, B.C: BCcampus: OpenEd. ISBN 978-1-77420-003-2 – via opentextbc.ca.

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