---
title: "A mixture of \\(\\text{SO}_2\\text{(g)}\\) and \\(\\text{O}_2\\text{(g)}\\) is introduced into a rigid \\(1.0\\text{ L}\\) container at \\(700\\text{ K}\\) and allowed to react according to the equation below.  \\[ 2\\,\\text{SO}_2\\text{(g)} + \\text{O}_2\\text{(g)} \\rightleftharpoons 2\\,\\text{SO}_3\\text{(g)} \\]  In Trial 1, the reaction proceeds to dynamic equilibrium in the absence of a catalyst. In Trial 2, the exact same initial amounts of reactants are reacted at \\(700\\text{ K}\\) in an identical container in the presence of a solid \\(\\text{V}_2\\text{O}_5\\) catalyst. Which of the following statements best compares the final equilibrium state in Trial 2 to that in Trial 1, and provides the correct justification?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/120283/"
date_modified: "2026-08-23T04:04:16+00:00"
---

# A mixture of \(\text{SO}_2\text{(g)}\) and \(\text{O}_2\text{(g)}\) is introduced into a rigid \(1.0\text{ L}\) container at \(700\text{ K}\) and allowed to react according to the equation below.

\[ 2\,\text{SO}_2\text{(g)} + \text{O}_2\text{(g)} \rightleftharpoons 2\,\text{SO}_3\text{(g)} \]

In Trial 1, the reaction proceeds to dynamic equilibrium in the absence of a catalyst. In Trial 2, the exact same initial amounts of reactants are reacted at \(700\text{ K}\) in an identical container in the presence of a solid \(\text{V}_2\text{O}_5\) catalyst. Which of the following statements best compares the final equilibrium state in Trial 2 to that in Trial 1, and provides the correct justification?

A mixture of \(\text{SO}_2\text{(g)}\) and \(\text{O}_2\text{(g)}\) is introduced into a rigid \(1.0\text{ L}\) container at \(700\text{ K}\) and allowed to react according to the equation below.

\[ 2\,\text{SO}_2\text{(g)} + \text{O}_2\text{(g)} \rightleftharpoons 2\,\text{SO}_3\text{(g)} \]

In Trial 1, the reaction proceeds to dynamic equilibrium in the absence of a catalyst. In Trial 2, the exact same initial amounts of reactants are reacted at \(700\text{ K}\) in an identical container in the presence of a solid \(\text{V}_2\text{O}_5\) catalyst. Which of the following statements best compares the final equilibrium state in Trial 2 to that in Trial 1, and provides the correct justification?

- **A.** The equilibrium concentration of \(\text{SO}_3\text{(g)}\) is the same in both trials because the catalyst lowers the activation energy for both the forward and reverse reactions by the same amount, leaving the ratio of the rate constants unchanged.
- **B.** The equilibrium concentration of \(\text{SO}_3\text{(g)}\) is greater in Trial 2 because the catalyst lowers the activation energy of the forward reaction to a greater extent than that of the reverse reaction.
- **C.** The equilibrium concentration of \(\text{SO}_3\text{(g)}\) is greater in Trial 2 because the catalyst provides an alternate pathway that decreases the overall standard enthalpy change (\(\Delta H^\circ\)) of the forward reaction.
- **D.** The equilibrium concentration of \(\text{SO}_3\text{(g)}\) is the same in both trials because the catalyst increases the collision frequency between reactant molecules without altering the reaction pathway.

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/120283/*