When equilibria are disturbed, they tend to shift in the direction that:

Le Chatelier's principle states that when a dynamic equilibrium is subjected to a change in concentration, temperature, pressure, or volume, the system responds by shifting in a direction that counteracts the disturbance. The correct answer indicates that the equilibrium will adjust itself to eliminate the effect of the disturbance and restore a new equilibrium state.

For example, if the concentration of reactants is increased, the system will shift toward the products to reduce the excess reactants. Similarly, if temperature or pressure is altered, the equilibrium will shift to lessen the impact of those changes. This principle helps predict how a system at equilibrium will respond to external changes, making it essential for understanding chemical reactions and processes in a variety of contexts.

Understanding that the goal of the equilibrium shift is to mitigate the change is vital for grasping the behavior of chemical systems.