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Which of the following are equal for a chemical system at equilibrium?

Which of the following are equal for a chemical system at equilibrium?-example-1
User Pensz
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1 Answer

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Step 1 - Understanding what happens when a reaction reaches equilibrium

When a reaction reaches equilibrium, the concentration of reactants and products will not vary anymore. That doesn't mean the concentration of reactants will be equal to that of products. It won't. At least, not necessarily. It may be, but it may not as well.

What actually happens when equilibrium is reached is that both reactions - the direct and the reverse one - are happening with the same velocity, i.e., their rate of reaction is the same, and that's why neither the concentration of reactants nor products vary.

As soon as a new molecule of product is produced, another molecule of product is reacting back to produce the reactants once again.

Step 2 - Choosing the right alternative

The right alternative therefore is the rate for the forward and reverse reactions are the same.

Answer: the rate for the forward and reverse reactions are the same

User Vijay V
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