What is Le Chatelier's principle?

Le Chatelier's principle focuses on how a system at equilibrium responds to changes in concentration, pressure, or temperature. When a dynamic equilibrium is disturbed by an external change, the position of the equilibrium shifts to counteract that change and restore a new balance. For instance, if the concentration of reactants is increased, the system will shift towards the products to reduce the concentration of reactants. Conversely, if the temperature of an exothermic reaction is increased, the equilibrium will shift to favor the reactants to absorb some of that added heat. This principle is fundamental in predicting the direction of shifts in chemical reactions when conditions change, making it an essential concept for understanding chemical equilibria in chemistry.