reaction shift

Reaction shift refers to the change in the balance or direction of a chemical reaction when conditions such as concentration, temperature, pressure, or the presence of a catalyst are altered. Imagine a seesaw: adding more of one reactant or removing a product can tip the balance, making the reaction favor either the formation of more products or the return to reactants. This shift occurs because the system seeks to reach equilibrium—where the forward and reverse reactions happen at the same rate—adjusting itself in response to changes to restore that balance.