3D GRIDBUILDING - SCIENCE - CHEMISTRY

REVERSIBLE REACTIONS

Reversible reactions are chemical reactions which go in both directions simultaneously, ie some of the products of the reaction going from left to right simultaneously undergo the reverse reaction and re-make the reactants.


If the forward reaction is endothermic, the reverse reaction is exothermic, and vice-versa.


Eventually an equilibrium is reached, where the rates of forming of products and re-making of reactants each remain constant and so proportions of reactants and products present in the reaction mixture - in the test tube, or wherever - remain the same.


Reaching equilibrium position does NOT mean there is a 50% mixture of reactants and products - although it occasionally might do - the external conditions such as temperature, pressure and/or presence of a catalyst will determine the rate of each reaction and will generally favour one "side" or the other, so the mixture is likely to be unequal.


Anne Evans