What happens to equilibrium when there is an increase in pressure?

When there is an increase in pressure on a system at equilibrium, the reaction will respond by shifting in the direction that produces fewer moles of gas. This behavior follows Le Chatelier's Principle, which states that if an external change (like pressure) is applied to a system at equilibrium, the system will adjust itself to counteract that change and restore a new equilibrium.

In reactions involving gases, the moles of gas on each side of the balanced equation become crucial. If one side of the reaction has fewer moles of gas than the other, increasing the pressure will favor the side with fewer moles, thus reducing the overall pressure in the system. By shifting towards the side with fewer moles, the system minimizes the impact of the change in pressure, maintaining a balance.

This makes it clear that the increase in pressure leads to a shift towards the side with fewer moles, confirming the reasoning behind the correct choice.