EXERCISE 4

CHEMICAL EQUILIBRIUM

I.

Introduction

Few chemical reactions proceed in only one direction. Most are, at least to some
extent, reversible. At the start of a reversible process, the reaction proceeds toward
the formation of products. As soon as some product molecules are formed, the reverse
processthat is, the formation of reactant molecules from product moleculesbegins
to take place. When the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are equal and the
concentrations of the reactants and products no longer change with time, chemical equilibrium is
reached. (Chang page 511)
Since no changes occur in the concentrations of reactants or products in a reaction
system at equilibrium, it may appear that everything has stopped. However,
this is not the case. On the molecular level there is frenetic activity. Equilibrium
is not static; it is a highly dynamic situation. The concept of chemical
equilibrium is analogous to two island cities connected by a bridge. Suppose
the traffic flow on the bridge is the same in both directions. It is obvious that
there is motion, since one can see the cars traveling across the bridge, but the
number of cars in each city is not changing because equal numbers are entering
and leaving. The result is no net change in the car population.(Zumdhal 6 th ed page 197)
Note that a chemical equilibrium reaction involves different substances as reactants
and products. Equilibrium between two phases of the same substance is called
physical equilibrium because the changes that occur are physical processes. The
vaporization of water in a closed container at a given temperature is an example of
physical equilibrium. (Chang page 511)