The concept of chemical equilibrium
Explain the concept of chemical equilibrium and how it relates to the reaction rates, concentration, and the equilibrium constant.
Sample Answer
Chemical equilibrium is a state in which the concentration of reactants and products remains constant over time. This means that the rate of the forward reaction is equal to the rate of the reverse reaction.
Chemical equilibrium can be achieved in any reversible chemical reaction. For example, consider the following reversible reaction:
A + B ⇌ C + D
At equilibrium, the rate of the forward reaction (A + B → C + D) is equal to the rate of the reverse reaction (C + D → A + B). This means that the concentrations of A, B, C, and D will remain constant over time.