---
title: "A mixture of \\(\\text{N}_2\\text{O}_4(g)\\) and \\(\\text{NO}_2(g)\\) is held at equilibrium in a cylinder fitted with a movable piston at a constant temperature \\(T\\), as represented by the following equation.  \\[\\text{N}_2\\text{O}_4(g) \\rightleftharpoons 2\\,\\text{NO}_2(g)\\]  The piston is pushed inward to reduce the total volume of the container to half of its original volume, and the mixture is allowed to reach a new equilibrium at the same temperature \\(T\\). Which of the following correctly compares the partial pressure of each gas at the new equilibrium to its initial partial pressure prior to the compression?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/119872/"
date_modified: "2026-08-21T08:16:42+00:00"
---

# A mixture of \(\text{N}_2\text{O}_4(g)\) and \(\text{NO}_2(g)\) is held at equilibrium in a cylinder fitted with a movable piston at a constant temperature \(T\), as represented by the following equation.

\[\text{N}_2\text{O}_4(g) \rightleftharpoons 2\,\text{NO}_2(g)\]

The piston is pushed inward to reduce the total volume of the container to half of its original volume, and the mixture is allowed to reach a new equilibrium at the same temperature \(T\). Which of the following correctly compares the partial pressure of each gas at the new equilibrium to its initial partial pressure prior to the compression?

A mixture of \(\text{N}_2\text{O}_4(g)\) and \(\text{NO}_2(g)\) is held at equilibrium in a cylinder fitted with a movable piston at a constant temperature \(T\), as represented by the following equation.

\[\text{N}_2\text{O}_4(g) \rightleftharpoons 2\,\text{NO}_2(g)\]

The piston is pushed inward to reduce the total volume of the container to half of its original volume, and the mixture is allowed to reach a new equilibrium at the same temperature \(T\). Which of the following correctly compares the partial pressure of each gas at the new equilibrium to its initial partial pressure prior to the compression?

- **A.** \(P_{\text{N}_2\text{O}_4}\) is greater than its initial value, and \(P_{\text{NO}_2}\) is less than its initial value.
- **B.** \(P_{\text{N}_2\text{O}_4}\) is less than its initial value, and \(P_{\text{NO}_2}\) is greater than its initial value.
- **C.** Both \(P_{\text{N}_2\text{O}_4}\) and \(P_{\text{NO}_2}\) are less than their initial values.
- **D.** Both \(P_{\text{N}_2\text{O}_4}\) and \(P_{\text{NO}_2}\) are greater than their initial values.

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/119872/*