Final answer:
The main difference between steady-state and equilibrium is that steady-state refers to a situation where a system's properties remain constant over time, while equilibrium refers to a state of balance where the rates of forward and reverse reactions are equal.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main difference between the concepts of "steady-state" and "equilibrium" is that steady-state refers to a situation where a system's properties remain constant over time, while equilibrium refers to a state of balance where the rates of forward and reverse reactions are equal.
In steady-state, the system is not necessarily in balance and may be undergoing continuous change, but the overall properties of the system remain constant. On the other hand, in equilibrium, the system is in a state of dynamic balance, where the rates of reactions in both directions are equal, resulting in no net change over time.
For example, consider a reaction in a closed container. If the reaction is in a steady-state, the concentrations of reactants and products may fluctuate, but overall, the system properties remain the same. In contrast, when the reaction reaches equilibrium, the concentrations stabilize, and the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are equal.