Why does pressure affect gaseous equilibria?

Pressure affects gaseous equilibria because changes in pressure alter the volume of the system, and according to Le Chatelier’s Principle, the system will respond by shifting the equilibrium to minimize the change. If there are more gas molecules on one side of the reaction, increasing the pressure will shift the equilibrium toward the side with fewer gas molecules, and vice versa. This is especially relevant for reactions that involve gaseous reactants or products.