According to Le Chatelier's principle, what happens when a system at equilibrium is subjected to a small change?

Le Chatelier's principle states that if a system at equilibrium is subjected to a change in concentration, temperature, pressure, or volume, the equilibrium will shift in a direction that counteracts the change. This is a fundamental concept in chemical equilibrium that illustrates how dynamic equilibria respond to external stresses.

When the system experiences a small change, such as an increase in the concentration of one of the reactants, the reaction will shift in such a direction to reduce the effect of that increase. For instance, it may favor the formation of products to use up the excess reactant, thus helping to restore a new equilibrium state.

This ability to shift in response to changes in conditions is what allows the system to establish a new equilibrium position that minimizes the effect of the imposed change. Therefore, the response of the system to minimize the effect of the change aligns perfectly with Le Chatelier's principle, confirming why this answer is the correct choice.