Shoom said:
Ok
IF I open a bottle, pressure is decreased. So the solubility of CO2 degreases , so to balance that out shouldnt the eq go to the right?
Well, think about it physically. In equilibrium, there are ALWAYS some amounts of both products and reactants present. Obviously, the amount of each changes.
Inside a soft drink bottle there is still some gaseous CO
2 in the air just above the liquid. So, when you open, the pressure is GREATLY decreased, thus decreasing the concentration of CO
2 (because there is a greater volume that gaseous CO
2 can occupy). Also, some CO
2 will escape, thus removing some CO
2(g) from the system.
As a result, the equilibrium will shift in such a manner, that more CO
2(g) is present at equilibrium, to partially offset both the loss of CO
2(g) (because some of it has escaped from the bottle once you open it), and also the decreased concentration of CO
2(g), as you greatly decrease pressure by opening the bottle (you are essentially increasing the volume that the given amount of CO
2(g) occupies).
Hence, all the equations in equilibrium are favoured to result in more gaseous CO
2(g) present:
H
+ + HCO
3-(aq) ---> H
2CO
3(aq)
H
2CO
3(aq) ---> H
2O(l) + CO
2(aq)
CO
2(aq) ---> CO
2(g)
Hope that helps