What would likely happen to the value of Kc for an exothermic reaction if its operating temperature was increased?  

Kc would remain unchanged because changes in temperature do not affect equilibrium constants for any chemical reaction type.

Kc would decrease because heat acts as a product in exothermic reactions and higher temperatures favor reactant formation according to Le Chatelier’s principle.

Kc would increase because higher temperatures provide more kinetic energy driving reactions towards products formation regardless of thermodynamics nature.

Kc could either increase or decrease depending on whether reactants or products have greater entropy which impacts Gibbs free-energy change with temperature alterations.