Chemical Equilibrium An equilibrium reaction is one in which the rate of the forward reaction equals the rate of the verse reaction. Let’s look at the following reaction: k1 !!! ⇀ a A + b B↽ !! ! cC+dD k -1
a b rate of the forward reaction = k [A] [B] 1
rate of the reverse reaction = k
c
-1
d [C] [D]
At equilibrium: rate of the forward reaction = rate of the reverse reaction; therefore, k1 [A]a [B]b = k -1 [C]c [D]d k1 [C]c [D]d = k -1 [A]a [B]b K eq =
[C]c [D]d [A]a [B]b
When the dynamic state of equilibrium is reached the concentrations of A, B, C, and D are invariant (i.e., their concentrations no longer change). The reaction continues in a dynamic state, and the concentrations remain the same unless a stress is placed on the reaction, and the rate of the forward reaction is equal to the rate of the reverse reaction. The following graph illustrates the equilibrium between the reactants and the products where the concentrations of the products remain the same at equilibrium and concentrations of the reactants remain the same at
1