Question

Equilibria can occur between:

A. the reactants and products of a chemical change
B. the reactants and products of a physical change
C. both of the above
D. none of the above

Answer 1

Equilibria can occur in both chemical reactions and physical processes, where the rates of forward and reverse changes are equal and the concentrations of substances remain constant over time.

Step-by-step explanation:

Equilibria can occur between the reactants and products of a chemical change, as well as between the reactants and products of a physical change.

Therefore, the correct answer to the question is C. both of the above. Equilibria are significant in both chemical reactions and physical processes, where a dynamic balance is achieved when the forward and reverse processes occur at equal rates, keeping the concentrations of the substances involved constant over time.

In chemistry, a dynamic chemical equilibrium is when the concentration of reactants A and B and the concentration of products C and D remain constant because the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are equal.

Equilibrium can also occur in physical changes, such as when water vapor and liquid water are in balance within a closed container, where the rates of evaporation and condensation are equal. The concept of equilibrium, therefore, encompasses various types of reversible processes that are vital to understanding how systems behave.